VELLORE: There was high drama at the District Police Office in Sathuvachari when a family of four threatened to end their lives by immolation if officials did not take steps to retrieve their property from two realtors.
Auto driver Manikandan (27) of Tharapadavedu had come to the DPO along with his mother Ponni (45), wife Rekha (22) and son Nikhesh (5) around 9 am. He raised slogans demanding protection for himself and his family members from Saravanan and Kumaran, realtors and residents of the same area. He also demanded that police should take action against the duo and retrieve his property, said an eyewitness.
He then suddenly took out a can of kerosene and poured it over himself and his family members. He threatened that they would end their lives if the police failed to take action and retrieve their property. Police acted swiftly and grabbed the matchbox and the kerosene can from Manikandan. He claimed that he had 50 cents of land in Erimunai near Tharapadavedu worth about `15 lakh. The realtor had persuaded him to sell his land to them six months ago and they promised a good price for it. After they entered into an agreement, the duo gave Manikandan `3 lakh, said the police.
However, they refused to pay the remaining amount and also threatened him of dire consequences. Though he was ready to repay `3 lakh he had got from them, they refused to hand over the documents of the property to him.
Even after filing several complaints with the police, no action was taken and his misery continued. He said this had driven him and his family to end their lives.
Police rescued the family and took them to hospital. They assured that they would take appropriate action on the issue.