Police in India say a woman has burned to death on her husband's funeral pyre, committing the outlawed Hindu practice of sati

BBC News:

The incident took place on Monday in Tuslipar village in the central state of Madhya Pradesh.

Sati, or the practice of a widow immolating herself on her husband's funeral pyre, is believed to have originated 700 years ago.

The rare practice mostly happens in parts of northern and central India.

Senior Madhya Pradesh police official Shahid Absar told the BBC that the woman, Janakrani, burnt to death on the funeral pyre of her husband Prem Narayan in Sagar district.

One report said she was in her 40s.

Mr Absar said Janakrani had jumped into the fire when her husband's body was being cremated according to Hindu rites.

The police said early investigations had revealed Janakrani had not been forced or prompted by anybody to commit the act.

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