KOTTAYAM: Alleging that her life was in trouble due to the functioning of a quarry, a woman tried to commit suicide by setting her ablaze in front of the Kootickal panchayat office along with her two-and-a-half-year-old baby girl. The woman has been identified as Elamkadu native Rosamma Samuel (38). The incident happened around 3 pm yesterday.

Rosamma, who came to the panchayat office with the baby and kerosene, was talking to the people's representatives when she unexpectedly poured kerosene on her and the baby's body. The incident took place in front of Panchayat president Sindhu Muraleedharan and other members. Panchayat members KS Mohanan and Ansi Augustine grabbed the kerosene jar from her. Meanwhile, Rosamma tried to light the cigarette lighter in her hand. However, KS Mohanan acted quickly and knocked the lighter away. Following this, the members took the child from Rosamma. Neighbours rushed to the spot with a bucket of water and poured it on Rosamma and her child.

Although Mundakayam police reached the spot and tried to shift her to the hospital, Rosamma resisted. Rosamma soon collapsed on the road when the police tried to move her with the help of the women police officers. She was then admitted to Mundakkayam Medical Trust Hospital. The police are also conducting an investigation to find the person who gave her the lighter.

Rosamma, who has a house and nearly 2 acres of land in Elamkadu Top, had been facing difficulties due to the functioning of the nearby quarry. She then lived on rent in Enthayar and Thenpuzha areas. Although she tried to sell the land near the quarry, the attempt was unsuccessful. She had complained to the authorities demanding to stop the functioning of the quarry, but it was of no use. The functioning of the quarry was temporarily stopped during the Covid period, but it was recently restarted following a court order. Rosamma had recently given a letter to the panchayat saying that she will commit suicide with her baby if the functioning of the quarry is not stopped.