Man Sets Himself Ablaze After Boss Asks To 'Send His Wife For A Night'

An Indian man set himself on fire after his boss allegedly asked him to “send his wife for a night” if he wanted a work transfer.

Gokul Prasad, 45, an employee of the Uttar Pradesh state’s power department, asked for a work transfer from his supervisor, junior engineer Nagendra Kumar. Prasad was humiliated after Kumar allegedly asked to spend a night with his wife in exchange for the transfer.

The worker went on to pour diesel over himself and strike a match outside Kumar’s office. Prasad was taken to the hospital but died Sunday while receiving treatment, according to NDTV.

Before he passed away, Prasad said on video that he set himself ablaze because of the harassment he suffered at the hands of the junior engineer and another staff member. He also said he sought help from cops but received none.

“He went into depression, started taking medication, but they did not spare him,” said Prasad’s wife, who reportedly said the junior engineer had been harassing him for three years.

The wife said Prasad was finding the commute to his workplace difficult and wanted a transfer to make things easier.

“So he asked for a transfer closer home. They told him, 'get your wife to sleep with us and we will get you transferred,’” the wife said, according to the outlet. She also noted that nobody came to Prasad’s aid as he stood outside the junior engineer’s office and set himself ablaze.

“The junior engineer stood there and watched," she added.

A senior police officer reportedly said Prasad had “alleged that the junior engineer used to demand money and made vulgar statements when he sought a transfer. We have registered a case. At the department level, the junior engineer has been suspended and an inquiry ordered. The case has been registered under the abetment to suicide charge.”

Anil Dhingra, the Managing Director of the power company where the deceased worked, Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (MVVNL), also acknowledged the junior engineer and staff member's suspension.

“We have suspended JE Nagendra Kumar and another staff member with immediate effect. The sequence of events is yet to be established. Police have lodged an FIR,” Dhingra told the Times of India.

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.