Woman dies 18 days after self immolation:Couple set themselves on fire during encroachment removal drive husband discharged just a day earlier

A woman who set herself on fire during an anti encroachment drive in Madhya Pradesh’s Dewas district has died during treatment. Jayashree Vyas died on Sunday at a private hospital in Indore, where she was admitted for 18 days. The incident took place on December 24, 2025, in Satwas town. Jayashree and her husband Santosh Vyas poured petrol on themselves and set themselves on fire to protest against an administrative action. Santosh was discharged from the hospital just one day before her death. Santosh Vyas runs a stationery and photocopy shop at the Satwas bus stand. A house owned by him was also under construction in a nearby colony. The administration had received a complaint that the construction was an encroachment. After the complaint, Tehsildar Arvind Diwakar reached the spot with a JCB machine on December 24 to remove the construction. During the action, an argument broke out between the couple and the Tehsildar, following which both set themselves on fire. Set themselves on fire in front of the Tehsildar
During the dispute, Santosh and Jaishree Vyas poured petrol on themselves and set themselves on fire in front of the Tehsildar. People present at the spot immediately tried to extinguish the fire and save them, but by then both were severely burnt. After primary treatment, they were referred from Satwas to Indore. Jaishree Vyas also underwent two surgeries
During treatment in Indore, Jaishree Vyas also underwent two surgeries. According to doctors, her condition was slowly improving, but late Saturday night, her health suddenly deteriorated and she was put on a ventilator. She passed away around 11 am on Sunday. After Jayshree’s death, the Vyas family has called the action taken by the Tehsildar illegal. The family alleges that all necessary permissions for the under-construction house had already been obtained. Currently, the police have conducted a post-mortem of the body and initiated further legal action. Traffic jam at the intersection near the police station
After the incident, angry family members and local citizens blocked the intersection near the police station. This led to a queue of vehicles stretching for about three kilometers on both sides. Upon receiving information, ADM Sanjeev Jain, Additional SP Soumya Jain, and SDOP Aditya Tiwari reached the spot. Police forces from Satwas, Kantaphod, Kannod, Nemawar, Harangaon, and Khategaon police stations were called to manage the situation. Officials had informed the family that Tehsildar Arvind Diwakar and Nagar Parishad CMO Chunnilal Junwal had been suspended in the case. Additionally, a two-member committee was formed for investigation, which included one SDM and one Tehsildar. Family members made serious allegations
Santosh Vyas’s brother, Dharmendra Vyas, alleged that neighbor Narayan Soni was encroaching on government land, which had been removed by the former Tehsildar. This matter is sub judice in court, and due to this animosity, the Soni family was issuing threats. Meanwhile, Santosh’s sister-in-law, Saraswati Vyas, alleged that after the incident, when all family members went to the police station, only women were present at home. During this time, neighbor Narayan Soni fired two shots and threatened to kill them. On the other hand, Narayan Soni’s sister, Uma Soni, reached the police station and deposited a 12-bore gun. She stated that her brother had fired warning shots in self-defense. The police are investigating all aspects.