A woman who was in her mid-thirties died on Monday after she made a suicide attempt as some local people assaulted her for allegedly having an extramarital affair.

Her husband has alleged that a section of their neighbours abetted her suicide. Police have initiated a probe and arrested four persons.

Sources said around eight days back, the woman fled with a local youth who was also married. As the husband couldn’t trace her, he filed a missing complaint at the local police station.

On Friday, he got a call from his wife. “She told me over the phone that she was in distress and that I should help her. I located her and took her to my in-laws’ place, which is nearby,” said the husband.

As the neighbours learnt about it, they asked him to bring her back. “I had no problem accepting her. But some local women, including the wife of the person with whom she had fled, intercepted us while we were on the way to our home on Saturday,” he said. “They abused her in public and thrashed her. Even I was not spared. My wife couldn’t bear this humiliation and drank pesticide at home,” the husband narrated.

She was rushed to hospital where she died on Monday.

“These women are responsible for my wife’s death,” said the youth.

A police officer said: “Four persons have been arrested in this connection. We are in search of some others.”

BJP MLA Sikha Chatterjee alleged that some Trinamool Congress leaders had instigated the humiliation and assault.

A Trinamool leader said: “Our party is completely against such acts. The police are probing the case and anybody found responsible for the woman’s death will face legal consequences.”