A 38-year-old woman allegedly set herself on fire outside Delhi Secretariat in Central Delhi on Monday evening. Preliminary investigation revealed that she has sustained 90 per cent burn injuries and police have recovered a suicide note where she has mentioned she was upset over being sexually harassed by a Delhi University college Principal.
Police said that the victim — a resident of East Delhi — has been identified as Pavitra Bhardwaj, working as a library assistant in Bhim Rao Ambedkar College on Main Wazirabad Road near Yamuna Vihar. She was sacked from the College two years ago.
“The incident occurred around 4.45 pm on Monday when she came outside Gate No. 6 of Delhi Secretariat, doused herself with kerosene and struck a match,” the officer added.
Further investigation also revealed that two years ago, she filed a sexual harassment case against the Principal and other officials of the college but the sexual harassment committee in DU gave a clean chit to the accused in April this year. later, the victim filed several complaints with the Chief Minister’s office too.