property dispute: 60-yr old attempts to set himself ablaze

A 60-year-old man today made a vain attempt to set him ablaze on the premises of the District Collectorate here over a property issue, police said.

Sundaramurthy of Somanur in the district, who came to the collectorate to submit a petition suddenly took out a bottle of kerosene, doused himself with it and tried to set himself ablaze after lighting a matchstick, police said.

However, police personnel on duty foiled his attempt and poured two pots of water on him.

A preliminary inquiry revealed that Sundaramurthy was reportedly cheated by a person, who grabbed 24 acres of land belonging to him.

He told police that he had tried to set himself ablaze to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to his plight and to retrieve his property, police said.