Rajkot immolation: 2 from Nepalese family succumb to burns

The two surviving women from the Nepalese family whose members immolated themselves died on Saturday after battling for life for three days in a hospital in Rajkot.

Rekha Mahendra Vishwakarma, 35, and Vasumati, 60, succumbed to burn injuries at the Civil Hospital, resident medical officer G H Dambhaniya said. Rekha died early on Saturday morning, while Vasumati breathed her last a few hours later, he said.

Five members of the Nepalese family poured kerosene and set themselves ablaze in Rajkot Municipal Corporation’s central zone office on April 3, fearing eviction from the house they had been staying in for 30 years.

Three of them, Bharat Mansingh Vishwakarma, 40, his wife Asha, 35, and brother Girish, 27, died the same day in the hospital. The family had been living in a small house in Chhotu Nagar Co-operative Housing Society in Raiya Dhar area.

The family members took the step fearing they would have to vacate the house after losing a court case against the housing society. Society members wanted them to vacate the plot and had moved the court and Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled RMC for eviction.

Meanwhile, three members of the housing society, Dushyant Tank, Haresh Vanja and Rajjesh Dholakiya, surrendered before the police on Friday night. They have been booked for abetment to suicide, police sources said.

Girish, in his dying declaration, told the police that two BJP Corporators Rajbha Zala and Kamlesh Mirani were harassing and threatening them to vacate the plot.

The police on Friday said that based on Girish's statement they have started a probe against the two corporators and they will be arrested if required. The BJP on Saturday took out rally in support of Mirani and Zala, who have denied the allegation levelled against them.