Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Oct 20: An aged woman, who was living alone in a house at Sootrabettu in the town, lost her life late night on Sunday October 18. After flames engulfed her at around 10.30 pm on Sunday, she charred to death within minutes. It looks like a case of self-immolation, policemen said.

Chitra Nayak (63), the victim in question, was unmarried. She was living in a house given to her by some relatives. Her cousin, N G Kasturi, was also living with her for long, before passing away on June 24 this year, it is gathered. After Kasturi's death, Chitra turned desolate. Kasturi was the only daughter of N G Kamath, a well-known freedom fighter. Chitra Nayak was shaken by the death of her long-term companion, and was going through mental agony and bouts of depression, it is said. It is being reasoned that she decided to end her life on account of her mental state.

People living in the neighbourhood rushed to Chitra's house after noticing flames inside the house at about 10.45 pm on Sunday. By then, Chitra had almost been completely burnt down by the flames. After the information was conveyed to the policemen, police sub-inspector, Abdul Khader, visited the spot. Chitra's relatives were summoned, door of the house was broken open, and her body was taken to government hospital for postmortem.

The police have gathered information that the woman, who did not own a cellphone, had given the cellphone number of a relative to a local woman acquaintance, and asked her to call that number. But the phone was found to have been switched off. Sometime later, another attempt was made, but the the relative could not be contacted, as the phone remained switched off.