Self-immolation bids keep cops on their toes

TIRUNELVELI: High drama prevailed at Tirunelveli Collectorate and the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP) as three separate attempts of self-immolation were witnessed on Monday. The incidents kept police on their toes.The first incident saw a man from Melapalayam attempting self-immolation by pouring kerosene after alleging harassment by an usurer. However, timely police intervention thwarted the attempt. The man, later identified as Marimuthu, was later taken to the Palayamkottai police station for enquiry.  In his petition, Marimuthu said he earned a living as a flower seller near Tirunelveli junction. Due to family problems, he got a loan of `40,000 from a Meenatchipuram resident.“I paid the interest without fail till last month. But, last month the moneylender demanded the payment of loan amount in full,” Marimuthu said. He alleged that the moneylender and family tortured him for payment of dues. Subsequently, he filed a complaint at Melapalayam Police Station on May 5.“As told by the police, I paid `10,000 in two days. But I doubt whether the moneylender will give back the document that I pledged with him,” the flower seller said, adding that this made him think about self-immolation.In a similar incident, K Subbulakshmi (56) from Senkottai attempted self-immolation. She said her relatives were trying to swindle her properties.  The SP office also witnessed self-immolation bid by a family from Kalakkad. The family members claimed that they had been ostracised from their village.  Police sources said Perumal (80) of Kalakkad had given a title deed to his son Pandaram (45) and daughter Thangam (40). But when Pandaram took steps to build a house, his relatives opposed the move saying that the land was a public property. Challenging this, the family is said to have represented the issue to the district collector and SP, but no steps were taken.On information that Perumal was challenging their orders, the relatives reportedly ostracised this family and prevented them from fetching water from a common well and participating in temple functions.  On Monday, Perumal along with Pandaram, Thangam, daughter-in-law Santhi and son-in-law Thangaraj and children attempted self-immolation. Police intervened immediately and prevented the attempt.