POCSO accused tries to kill himself on Guj court premises

A man being tried under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act today tried to kill himself on the premises of the sessions court here in Gujarat alleging that his petition seeking transfer of the case to another judge was not being taken up, police said.

The accused Daniel Gawai tried to set himself on fire with kerosene he was carrying with him on the premises of the court, a police official said.

However, he was overpowered by police personnel before he could set himself on fire, he said.

"Gawai had threatened on Saturday that he would kill himself outside the court today," he said.

His case is being heard by POCSO judge P C Raval.

He had threatened to take the extreme step in a letter marked to chief justices of the Gujarat high court and the supreme court as well as President.