Jodhpur lecturer sets herself, 3-year-old daughter on fire over dowry harassment

A 32-year-old school lecturer, Sanju Bishnoi, set herself and her three-year-old daughter, Yashasvi, on fire at their home in Sarnada village under Dangiyawas police station area on Friday. Yashasvi died on the spot, while Sanju succumbed to her injuries on Saturday morning during treatment.

Police said Sanju poured petrol over herself and her daughter after returning from school and locked the house from the inside. Neither her husband, Dilip Bishnoi, nor her in-laws were present at the time. Neighbours noticed smoke rising from the house and informed the family and authorities.

Omaram Bishnoi, Sanju’s father, filed an FIR against Dilip Bishnoi, his mother, father, and sister for dowry harassment and abetment to suicide. Police recovered a suicide note in which Sanju accused her husband, in-laws, and another man, Ganpat Singh, of harassment. Officials are investigating Ganpat Singh’s role in the case.

Forensic teams collected evidence from the house, and the victim’s mobile phone was seized. After a dispute between Sanju’s parents and her in-laws over the body, the mother and daughter were cremated together following post-mortem procedures.

Sanju had been married to Dilip Bishnoi for around ten years and worked as a lecturer at a senior secondary school in Fitkasni village. Authorities continue to investigate the case, focusing on the suicide note and collected evidence to determine the circumstances of the dowry harassment and abetment claims.