Police thwart woman’s self-immolation attempt in Mathura; Opposition questions redressal mechanism

Uproar over a video which went viral on Friday (June 27, 2025), in which a young woman attempted self-immolation outside Sokha police outpost under Magora police station limits in Mathura district over a land dispute, Opposition and common people questioned the complaint redressal mechanism in Uttar Pradesh, forcing individuals to take such an extreme step.

The incident occurred on June 26, in the evening, over a land dispute, when the father of the victim and the other side were brought to the police station for legal action. Suddenly, the daughter came from behind in the police station and poured an inflammable substance on herself.

The Station House Officer (SHO) and other police personnel saved the victim with the video of the incident going viral.

“Three brothers had a landholding of over three acres. One of the brothers sold his share to a local villager; when the villager went to occupy the land, the other two brothers protested. It led to an altercation; they were taken to the police outpost for mediation. Suddenly, the daughter of a brother Govind, came from behind and poured an inflammable substance on herself. The police personnel saved the victim,” said Anil Kumar Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the Goverdhan area. The father of the victim alleged that his daughters were beaten at the police outpost. 

“Such a tragic video, where is the law-and-order mechanism in Uttar Pradesh. Police must show sensitivity towards people, what is forcing the girl to take the extreme step,” wrote a social media user Chanan Thakur. 

Congress National Secretary Shahnawaz Alam said, “If you remember during assembly sessions, instances of people attempting self-immolation outside assembly is reported regularly. At times, people attempt self-immolation outside CM house, it shows the failure of the entire system of grievance redressal and policing. Anyone committing such an extreme step is disheartened by the existing system, as only powerful is getting justice and heard in police stations. The entire system is being corrupted due to lack of check and balance, with the poor facing the brunt.”