26-yr-old man tries to immolate himself near Parliament building

A 26-year-old man set himself on fire near the Rail Bhawan roundabout, close to the Parliament building, here on Wednesday, a Delhi police officer said.

The victim, who sustained 90 per cent burn injuries, has been identified as Jitendra, a resident of Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh. He is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.

The incident took place around 3:30 pm, according to the Fire Department. Though a fire tender was pressed into service, security personnel present there doused the flames even before the fire brigade arrived.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Devesh Mahla said the man attempted self-immolation at the Rail Bhawan roundabout.

“The local police, railway police and bystanders extinguished the fire. The man, who was taken to the hospital, had reportedly reached Delhi earlier in the day,” said the DCP.

Preliminary investigations suggest that Jitendra may have been upset over personal disputes in his hometown.

The police said he reached the Shahdara railway station around 1 pm carrying a general ticket. They recovered documents indicating three cases were pending against him in Baghpat.

“It appears that he was upset over alleged inaction by the local police in investigating his cases, following which he allegedly took the extreme step,” said another police officer.