Jain woman dies fasting for 56 days

A 83-year-old woman of Jain community, who was on 'fast onto death' here as part of a religious ritual, died after avoiding food for 56 days, police said today.
The last rites of Vhicki Devi Sethia, who died last night, were performed here at the Khan Nagar crematorium this afternoon, they said.
Family sources said the woman was observing "Santhara", a religious practice of the community in which she abandoned her body without taking food and medicines to attain "Moksha".
The medieval practice had sparked a debate in the city with social organisations equating it with attempt to suicide.