THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 55-year-old security guard was admitted to the Medical College Hospital here with critical burns after he attempted self-immolation at the office of the security agency on Wednesday.
The guard identified as Anilkumar, of Arun Nivas, Avanavancheri, near Attingal, took the extreme step after he was served a termination notice, police said. A magistrate has recorded his statement at the hospital.
The police said Anilkumar was employed with a private security agency at Thonnackal, near Mangalapuram. “There was some dispute between Anilkumar and his employer regarding non-payment of wages. The agency terminated him citing unauthorised absence from job,” police said.
On Wednesday, Anilkumar approached the agency demanding pending wages which the company refused. “He then went to the ground floor of the building and set himself on fire by pouring kerosene over him,” police said.
The security agency told the police that Anilkumar’s claim of non-payment of salary was false.