RAJKOT: Police prevented a 52-year-old dalit woman from immolating herself outside the district panchayat office in Rajkot on Wednesday.

Shantaben Vadher of Aji dam chowkdi is employed as a health worker in primary health centre at Sardhar. She came with kerosene cans to the district panchayat crossroads at around 11 am and tried to immolate herself.

The police had prior information about her plan and there was heavy deployment at the spot. The cops prevented her from taking the extreme step.

Sources said that she was allegedly being mentally harassed by her co-workers and verbally abused over her caste. She has also alleged that she was recently transferred to Chitravad village in Jamkandorna taluka of Rajkot district without any reason.

"I presented my case to senior officials but no one took any action in this regard. Therefore, I decided to take this step," she told the police.

