Man succumbs to burns in Coimbatore

A 45-year-old man, who attempted to end his life by immolating self on the premises of the Kavundampalayam police station on Saturday morning, succumbed to burns at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) late on Saturday.

The police said that Sekar alias Auto Sekar, a resident of Siva Nagar at Kavumdampalayam, died without responding to treatment around 11 p.m. on Saturday.

The Kavundampalayam police had arrested Sekar’s son Mani Bharath, 19, and his friend N. Janakiraman, 27, for alleged possession of ganja from Annai Indira Nagar on Friday. They were remanded in judicial custody.

Sekar went to the police station around 9 a.m. on Saturday and set himself ablaze after pouring petrol. He was admitted to CMCH with over 70% burns and he died late at night.

Sekar’s wife Jayapriya alleged that the police foisted a drug peddling case against her son and her husband went to the police station to enquire about the same. She alleged that the Inspector threatened Sekar of registering a case against him, following which he took the extreme step.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050).