Ahmedabad: A woman councillor of BJP-ruled Prantij municipality in Sabarkantha district today allegedly committed suicide by setting herself ablaze at her house in Prantij, police said.
56-year-old Arkhiben Rathod, a councillor from the BJP, was rushed to civil hospital at nearby Himmatnagar town this afternoon following her suicide bid, said, Assistant Sub Inspector Harshad Joshi, who is posted at Himmatnagar civil hospital chowky.
“Her family members said in a statement that she poured kerosene on herself when she was alone at the house and set herself ablaze. She died shortly after being admitted at the hospital,” said Joshi.
“As per the statement of her family members, she was suffering from some mental illness and was under treatment for the same. It is possible that she might have taken the extreme step due to this illness. We have informed Prantij police station about her death,” said the police official.
According to local BJP leaders, Rathod was a senior councillor of Prantij Nagarpalika and had won thrice from the seat.