In a distressing incident in Bihar's Rohtas district, an 80-year-old Dalit woman allegedly attempted self-immolation along with her four grandchildren on the premises of the Kargahar block office on Thursday. The woman, identified as Suhagini Kunwar from Amwalia village, accused authorities of inaction on her repeated pleas for financial assistance.
Incident Details
According to eyewitnesses, Kunwar set her saree on fire and tried to drag the children into the flames. Quick-thinking locals intervened and rescued all five, preventing a potential tragedy. Some onlookers claimed that the incident occurred in front of block officials and police personnel, but no immediate action was taken by authorities. Videos of the incident were also recorded by bystanders.
Background of the Family
Kunwar stated that her son and daughter-in-law died about two-and-a-half years ago, leaving behind four children: Tappu Musahar (8), Amarjeet Musahar (6), Preeti Kumari (4), and one-and-a-half-year-old Pratima Kumari. Since then, she has been raising them under severe financial hardship.
Despite multiple visits to block and district offices, her applications under the Kabir Antyeshti and Parivarik Labh schemes remained pending. She also claimed that funeral assistance was not provided after the deaths of her son and daughter-in-law. The family is struggling for basic sustenance, and the children often go without adequate food.
Prior Warning
Kunwar had submitted a written notice to the Block Development Officer (BDO) on April 3, warning of extreme action if her grievances were not addressed. The BDO, Ajit Kumar, acknowledged the matter as old and assured that payments under the pending schemes would be processed after verification of records. He attributed the delay to pending reports.
This incident highlights the desperate situation faced by many vulnerable families in rural India, where bureaucratic delays can push individuals to extreme measures.
