Dejected over her husband’s drinking habit, Rajeswari (26), wife of Subash Gandhi (41), a Head Constable, doused herself and her 2-year-old son, Saicharan, with kerosene and set themselves on fire at the police quarters in Thideer Nagar on Monday morning.
Both of them died at the hospital later. Mr.Gandhi, who sustained serious burn injuries when he tried to save them, is battling for his life.
The police said Mr.Gandhi was a patrol vehicle driver attached to the Vilakkuthoon police station. He was living with his wife, son and daughter Bhavadarani (7) in a first floor apartment.
Ms.Rajeswari had been opposing the drinking habit of her husband for sometime.
On reaching home on Monday morning after night duty, Mr.Gandhi started consuming alcohol.
Ms.Rajeswari told him that she would commit suicide if he did not stop drinking.
However, Mr.Gandhi ignored her warning.
Suddenly, she doused herself and the boy with kerosene and set themselves afire. Mr.Gandhi tried to save them, but sustained over 50 per cent burn injuries.
All the three were rushed to the Government Rajaji Hospital, where Ms.Rajeswari and Saicharan died later.
The incident happened at around 9.45 a.m. after the couple’s daughter Bhavadarani had left for school.
The Thideer Nagar police are investigating.
The police said only two months back the couple had moved to the flat, rendered vacant for nearly a year after its earlier tenant, a Sub-Inspector, committed suicide by consuming poison there.
