Hyderabad: A 37-year-old woman set herself ablaze and died after she failed to pay her children's school fees due to demonetisation at Lallaguda.
Though the victim, J. Margaret, had money to pay the fee, it was in Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations. Since the deadline ran out and she could not get it exchanged, her children fought with her. Police said that she became depressed and set herself ablaze.
Lallaguda police said Margaret poured kerosene on her body and lit herself on November 12. She was admitted in hospital with severe burns and died on Friday.
"Her two sons, Ronald and Vicki study in Class X and IX at a private school in the city. They had asked their mother for their fee. Margaret had cash in hand, but it was demonetised currency and she could not pay the fee in time. She could not also get the cash exchanged from the bank. She went into depression and killed herself," said SI B. Mallaiah of Lallaguda police station.
A widow, Margaret's husband had passed away a decade ago. Since she was alone at home it was difficult for her to wait in the bank queue and get the cash exchanged. As she could not get the currency, her children also got disappointed fearing that their education might be affected. This led to a quarrel in the family. Police booked a case.
