A devastating incident unfolded in Jodhpur’s Sarnada Ki Dhani village on August 22, 2025, when Sanju Bishnoi, a 32-year-old government school lecturer, set herself and her three-year-old daughter, Yashasvi, on fire at their home. The daughter died instantly at the scene, while Sanju succumbed to her severe burn injuries the next day at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital.
Police recovered a suicide note in which Sanju accused her husband Dilip Bishnoi, his parents, sister-in-law, and an individual named Ganpat Singh of relentless dowry harassment and physical torture. The victim’s father lodged a formal complaint leading to an FIR against the husband and in-laws for dowry harassment and abetment to suicide. Police continue the investigation, including forensic analysis and efforts to locate Ganpat Singh.
Dowry Harassment and the Incident
Sanju Bishnoi’s tragic act came after years of alleged continuous harassment over dowry demands. On the day of the incident, Sanju returned home from work, locked the doors behind her, and doused herself and her daughter in petrol before setting them ablaze.
Neighbours noticed smoke and alerted her family and local police, but the child was declared dead on the spot, while Sanju died after treatment the following day. According to police reports, neither the husband nor in-laws were present in the house during the incident. The recovered suicide note detailed the accusations of mental and physical cruelty by the family members and Ganpat Singh, illuminating the deep distress Sanju endured.
Police have seized her mobile phone for forensic examination and are actively searching for Ganpat Singh.
Legal Developments and Family Dispute
The victim’s father, Omaram Bishnoi, promptly filed a complaint accusing the husband and in-laws of dowry harassment and abetment to suicide, which resulted in the registration of an FIR. The police investigation has been handed over to higher authorities, with forensic teams collecting evidence from the scene. A dispute arose between Sanju’s parents and her in-laws over custody of the bodies.
After completing a post-mortem, authorities handed over the bodies to Sanju’s parents, who cremated mother and daughter together. The case has resonated amid heightened national attention on dowry-related violence following other recent tragedies, underscoring persistent societal challenges.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Sanju Bishnoi’s death is a painful reminder of the destructive consequences of dowry harassment, a social evil outlawed but still deeply entrenched in parts of Indian society.
The Logical Indian condemns such cruelty and urges collective action from communities, authorities, and social institutions to foster empathy, protect vulnerable individuals, and dismantle harmful customs. True peace and harmony can only be achieved when dignity and respect are assured for all.
