Indian woman dies after accusing police of setting her on fire

BARABANKI , India, July 7 (UPI) -- An Indian woman died Tuesday morning after accusing policemen in the state of Uttar Pradesh of setting her on fire for refusing to pay a bribe, according to officials.

Neetu Dwivedi, 40, sustained burns to 80 percent of her body and died in a hospital in the city of Lucknow, the BBC reports.

She told a magistrate and reporters before dying that she had gone to the police station in Barabanki to inquire about her husband, who had been detained for questioning in a crime, and that she was abused and humiliated after refusing to pay a bribe of more than $1,500.

The police officers accused in the incident claim she tried to immolate herself. They were suspended pending an investigation into the matter.

Also on Tuesday, three police officers in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu were placed under suspension after a 22-year-old man died while being questioned in connection to a murder case at a police department in Karumalaikudal, in the the state's Salem district.

Last month Indian journalist Jagender Singh claimed Indian police raided his home and set him on fire.

Singh had been reporting on corruption among government officials and ministers in Uttar Pradesh. Before dying of his injuries, Singh also accused Ram Murti Singh Verma, a state minister in Uttar Pradesh who had been subject of several of Singh's stories, of involvement in the attack.

The minister denied the allegations and police said Singh tried to immolate himself.