Jamshedpur, Nov. 13: Barely 12 hours after she had been given a colour TV set, demanded by her husband since marriage last November, Jayshree Das committed suicide by pouring kerosene on her this morning.

Even before her neighbours at Saldih Bustee in Manjhitola under Adityapur police station broke open the door, she was charred to death.

According to one of her close relatives, Jayshree (26), the daughter of Sitaram Goswami, was married to Gautam Das last year when they had given their son-in-law adequate dowry.

But a few months after the marriage, Gautam asked for a colour TV set, which she could not bring along as dowry. This turned Gautam more violent and he started beating her up frequently, alleged Vishwanath Das, the relative.

Das added: “Fed up with complaints from the girl, we bought the couple a colour TV last evening.

Her father requested Gautam not to assault Jayshree for such a trifle issue and left for his native place.But this afternoon, I got the news that she committed suicide by burning herself.” However, Vishwanath could not say why she committed suicide.

Shrimati Gaur, the landlady of the house where the couple were staying since marriage, said: “The couple would regularly quarrel over trivial matters. It was about 9.30am when I went with my husband Prasanna to buy groceries.

“While returning home, someone from the bustee told me that my house was on fire. I walked fast and finally established that the smoke was billowing out from Jayshree’s room.

“Sniffing something fishy, I screamed for help, and the neighbours rush to the spot. The door was shut from inside and as they broke it open, they discovered that the young woman was lying charred.”

Inspector B.D. Singh of Adityapur police station said: “This is a case of suicide, but we do not know the exact reason behind it.” The police are waiting for Gautam, who works in an industrial unit in Gamharia and has left homefor work early, to record his statement and to know what has led her to commit suicide.