COIMBATORE: A woman, along with her mentally challenged daughter, attempted to immolate herself at the office of District Collector, seeking immediate action against a person who has been harassing her daughter.

Muruganandavalli, hailing from Gajamudi in Valparai, had come along with her 16-year old daughter to submit a petition to the Collector on Monday, being the grievances day.

She suddenly poured kerosene on her and her daughter Chintamani and tried to immolate. Police personnel, who were on duty, overpowered her and took her to the counselling room at the office.

Inquiry revealed that one Mookkan, in their neighbourhood, had been sexually torturing Chintamani when she was alone in their house. She was rescued by her neighbours who rushed to their house hearing her screams.

Though she lodged a complaint with the police, they registered some other case and sent Mookkan out after fining him Rs.1,000, Muruganandavalli told the officials in the collectorate.

According to her, Mookkan tried to misbehave with Chintamani frequently and even threatened to finish them off if they lodged a complaint with the police again.

Despite the complaint and also submitting petition to the Collector, there was no reprieve from Mookkan and as a last resort, she decided to take the extreme step, Muruganandavalli said.

Police took her to the officials, who accepted the petition and assured to take action and solve the problem.