AIDS patient commits self-immolation in Bihar

Bombay News.Net. Thursday 2nd July, 2009 (IANS)

A man in Bihar's Gaya district, diagnosed with AIDS, committed self-immolation
to get rid of daily pain and suffering, police said Thursday.

Satyendra Malakar, 35, a resident of Barora village, 100 km from here, committed
suicide late Wednesday night.

Malakar's family members told police that he was depressed for the past few
days. He was suffering from high fever, cough and weakness and had become so
weak that he could not walk properly.

'Malakar was depressed after being diagnosed with AIDS. He committed suicide by
setting himself ablaze at his residence,' Guraru police station chief Shiv
Shankar Prasad Verma told IANS by phone.

Verma said that Malakar's wife Munni Devi, in her late 20s, and her three
children were also diagnosed as being HIV positive.

'Malakar's entire family was victim of HIV positive and was fighting for
survival,' Verma said.

All four were being treated at a government hospital, he added. Malakar had
migrated to Gujarat in search of livelihood a decade ago.

'He was infected with HIV during his stay in Gujarat,' Verma said.

A few months ago, he had consulted doctors at Patna Medical College and Hospital
and was told that he had very few days left to live.

http://www.bombaynews.net/story/514248