Gaya, Apr 24: Apparently overwhelmed by the agony of losing her life partner, an elderly woman ended her life on the pyre of her octogenarian husband at Sidupur village under Imamganj police station here.

District Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar Jain said a case of 'unnatural' death had been registered with the concerned police station.

Sita Devi (77) took the extreme step last week with no proof of any abetment from any quarter, Mr Jain said.

''Although Sita Devi did not proclaim anything, she committed Sati by giving away her life and she deserves reverred treatment befitting a Sati,'' argued a village elder.

Official sources said Sita Devi's husband, Sugreev Prasad, who was a paralytic patient (82), died on April 19 and his body was consigned to flames the next evening.

Sources said that Sita Devi, also an avid reader of fiction relating to Sati Anusuyya, ventured out on the night of April 20 and squatted on ambers of the pyre till her end came silently without anybody's attention.

Finding her missing, her kins made a frantic search to ultimately locate her body in the cremation ground.

Considering her act of 'sacrifice', her ashes are now stored for 'display' at her residence where hundreds of people paid respect to the 'pious soul'.

Residents of ten adjoining villages have decided to construct a temple in her memory.

UNI