Man who attempted self-immolation dies in hospital

26-year-old Vijayaraj, an auto driver, died at the Mohan Kumaramangalam Government Hospital, where he was admitted yesterday with 95 per cent burns after he set himself afire dousing petrol.

Police said a diary, written in Tamil, was recovered from him, in which he stated that if Rajapakse visited Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh this week to lay the foundation stone for an International Buddhist University, it would be shameful to Indians, especially Tamilians.

He had also written that Katchatheevu islet, which was ceded to Sri Lanka by India through an agreement in 1974, should be retrieved from the island nation.

Heavy police picketing was posted in premises of the hospital and district collectorate, police said.

Several parties, including MDMK led by Vaiko, have opposed the visit of Rajapakse, who is held responsible by Tamil Nadu parties for the alleged war crimes against civilian Tamils in the island nation during the 2009 Eelam war.

Vaiko has announced that he would lead a blackflag demonstration in Sanchi against the visit of Rajapakse.