8 of family attempt immolation; land in custody

Eight members of a family tried to set themselves ablaze at the district collectorate here, protesting against the alleged year long delay in providing a 'patta' (deed) for housing.
Police said that Saravanan, a daily wage earner from Sulur on the city outskirts, had been arrested last year for trying to set himself ablaze at the collectorate premises for the same reason.
Police and district officials had assured him that the collector would be apprised of his grievances and steps taken to issue him a patta.
As nothing transpired since then, Saravanan, his wife and 11 family members came to the Collectorate today on 'Grievances Day,' where eight of them suddenly poured kerosene over their bodies and tried to set themselves alight.

However, they were overpowered by police and later taken into custody.