Indian-origin woman killed self over failed marriage

LONDON - A 24-year-old Indian-origin woman, who tried to keep her failed marriage alive for her family’s sake, burned herself to death in Britain, a court was told.

Harsimrat Kaur Bains came from India to marry Dalvinder Bains, 30, in 2007 but soon afterwards began complaining of domestic abuse.

After months of alleged abuse, Harsimrat doused her body in petrol and set herself on fire in the couple’s home in Leicester in April 2008, the Daily Mail reported.

Coroner Donald Coutts-Wood at the inquest at Leicester Town Hall recorded a verdict of suicide.

In a suicide note, Harsimrat wrote: “To save my mother’s respect, I am committing suicide.”

Harsimrat had told relatives she was beaten up by her husband but continued to work at their marriage for her family’s sake.

Bains threw her out of their home, forcing her to live with her sister in Birmingham. When she returned a couple of weeks later, she was devastated when Bains gave her the “cold shoulder” and refused to speak with her.

Four days later, Harsimrat wrote a suicide note and set herself on fire in the couple’s bedroom.

A fireman doused the flames but Harsimrat died of multiple organ failure a few weeks later at a hospital in Birmingham.

Harsimrat’s sister Paramjit Kaur said: “My sister had complained to me many times that she had been the victim of domestic abuse at the hands of her husband.”

“She had been determined to make the relationship work. She felt she would be letting down her family and causing them shame if she did not try.”

Though Bains admitted his relationship with Harsimrat had become “strained”, he denied the abuse.