Man dies after setting himself on fire at State Human Rights Commission office

A 30-year-old differently abled person succumbed to burns at a hospital on Friday after he set himself on fire at the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) office on Thursday.

According to the police, on Thursday at around 9 am, A. Albert, 30, a differently abled person from Virudhunagar came to submit a petition at the State Human Rights Commission. At around 11.00 a.m., he set himself on fire.

Hearing his screams, police personnel on duty extinguished the fire using a fire extinguisher and rushed him to the Government Royapettah Hospital. He was later referred for further treatment to the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, where he underwent treatment in the intensive care unit. On Friday, he died at the hospital.

During the inquiry, it was revealed that two months ago, a woman named Aadhigurulakshmi, 40, from Virudhunagar district had lodged a complaint against Albert at the Virudhunagar Cyber Crime Police Station. In the complaint, she stated that she had given ₹1,75,000 to Albert, whom she knew, for business investment purposes, and had filed the complaint as the amount was not returned. Virudhunagar Cyber Crime Police are investigating the case.

Further inquiry revealed that Albert had assured that he would return the money on January 27 but failed to do so within the stipulated time. Claiming that he was wrongly booked by police, he tried to end his life at the SHRC premises, police said.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)