A 23-year-old man, who was depressed over his love failure, allegedly committed self-immolation at Perianaickenpalayam near here on Friday night.
Police said B Manikkam, a second year student of a private polytechnic college, took the extreme step after his lover turned down his proposal.
Manikkam was consuming liquor with one of his friends near the railway tracks at Kuppuchipalayam. He was found to be in a depressed mood over his failed love affair. Suddenly, before his friend could react, Manikkam doused himself with kerosene and set himself on fire, police said.
Manikkam has reportedly been in love with the girl, who was his former classmate, for several years.
Recently, the girl stopped talking to Manikkam after he proposed his love to her.
Police said Manikkam had already planned to commit self-immolation. So, he had carried kerosene with him to the spot.
Soon after the incident, his friend, although shaken, immediately alerted the police and Manikkam’s relatives. But before both police and the relatives arrived, Manikkam breathed his last.
The railway police retrieved the body and sent it for autopsy to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital. Further enquiries into the incident were on.