VELLORE: The Collectorate here witnessed tense moments on Friday morning when a youth, who climbed to the fifth floor of the ‘B’ block, threatened to commit suicide by jumping from there.
Clinging onto a fire extinguisher which he had found nearby, he used it to threaten the police, demanding the release of his brother, who had been remanded in connection with a case.
A 10-member police team, which negotiated with him for over an hour, finally grabbed him and the high drama concluded. The youth was identified as one Manikantan of Poondi village near Arcot.A large gathering of visitors, who had come to the Collectorate, witnessed the drama which kept the officials literally on tenterhooks as the Minister for Cooperatives was holding a review meeting in ‘A’ block.
Sources said that Manikantan must have climbed through the emergency exit stairs. When the news spread that he was threatening to jump off the fifth floor, police and fire-tenders rushed to the spot and some of the policemen tried to negotiate and rescue him. As Manikantan was not able to speak clearly, the police had a tough time in understanding what his demands were. For sometime, he said his brother Sivakumar had been kidnapped and the police should trace him but later he claimed that police had arrested his brother and should release him. Each time someone tried to approach Manikantan, he climbed the parapet wall and threatened to jump.
However, after nearly an hour, Manikantan appeared exhausted and tired and sat on the floor.
At this time, the crowd that was watching the entire drama and the vehicles that were parked downstairs were cleared and the police officials climbed the fifth floor and caught him.
Manikantan was taken to the Government Medical College Hospital, Vellore, for treatment. He admitted that he had not eaten for the past three days. Further investigations have been started in this regard.