Idukki: In a shocking incident, a woman set herself ablaze to stop the bank officials from attaching her property at Nedumkandam here on Friday. Anikunnel Sheeba Dileep, a native of Nedumkandam suffered 90 per cent burns in the suicide attempt. She is currently undergoing treatment at Kottayam Government Medical College Hospital.
Two officers of Nedumkandam police station suffered burns while trying to save the housewife. It is learnt that the woman doused herself in petrol and set herself on fire to threaten the bank officials who reached her house to initiate foreclosure procedure over non-payment of a loan.
The officials had obtained a court order and sought help of police to attach the property. Grade SI Binoy and woman civil officer Ambily who accompanied the bank officials sustained burns while trying to save the woman. Ambili was shifted to a private hospital in Ernakulam as she sustained more than 30 per cent burns. The SI's condition is stable, said reports.
Sheeba and her family purchased 13 cents land after taking a loan from the bank. As they failed to repay the loan, the outstanding amount was Rs 36 lakh including interest. When the payment was defaulted, the bank went ahead with legal measures. Earlier, Sheeba had tried to commit suicide by slitting her wrist when the bank officials visited the house and asked her to vacate the property. Mahila Congress workers took out a protest march to the bank.
