BENGALURU: A 35-year-old man in an inebriated condition set himself ablaze in front of Mico Layout traffic police station early Sunday. He succumbed to burn injuries at Victoria Hospital in the evening.
The family members of the deceased Manikanta, a truck driver and a resident of CK Palya near Silk Board Junction, alleged police harassment as cause of his suicide — an allegation that is not verified.A police officer attached to Mico Layout traffic police said around 2.15am, Manikanta was riding towards Jayadeva Hospital on a bike and fell while passing Shoppers Stop. Traffic ASI Murthy and his men, who were checking for drunk driving close by, noticed him.
They found Manikanta was under the influence of alcohol. He reportedly refused the breath test, and the police seized the bike, demanding vehicle documents — which he didn’t have — before letting him go.
Manikanta returned to Mico Layout police later, demanding the bike’s release. The police refused, stating proper procedures need to be followed.
He then went to a nearby petrol pump and returned with a bottle full of petrol, doused himself and set himself ablaze. His screams alerted the police who rushed to douse the flames and took him to Victoria Hospital, where he succumbed . “Manikanta’s wife refused to give a statement as she has separated from him a few months ago,” police said.
BIKE BORROWED
Manikanta had borrowed a friend’s bike. The friend, Ravi, who is getting married in the next few days, had refused, police said. But Manikanta convinced him saying he had an emergency to attend to and needed it. The police found stacks of wedding invitation cards in the boot of the bike.