Woman attempts 'sati' in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL: Within three weeks of a woman committing sati in Madhya Pradesh, another case has come to light in the Bundelkhand region of the state, police said on Wednesday.

Mithlesh, 27, tried to immolate herself on her husband's pyre in Tikamgarh district Sep 11. As the funeral procession of Ram Prasad, 30, was about to start, she expressed a desire to commit sati but the family members prevented her from doing so and informed the police.

She made another attempt on the cremation ground but the police intervened. She became unconscious and was admitted to the district hospital where she is yet to regain consciousness.

"Police have been deployed both outside the hospital and in the village," Tikamgarh superintendent of police Ashutosh Rai said.

The practice of sati has been glorified for many centuries in all the 20 districts of Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Just a few weeks ago, Janakrani of Tulsipur village in Sagar district had performed sati by plunging into her husband's pyre.

The Patna Tamoli village in Sagar district has seen three satis. A special court had earlier this year sentenced to life a woman's sons and brothers for abetting her death on her husband's pyre in 2002.

The worship of 'sati matas' - women who commit sati - is common is some parts of the country. The Ranisatiji temple in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu, for instance, is extolled as a testament of "feminine bravery" and is frequented by thousands of worshippers.