Dinakaran faction driver attempts self-immolation at Tirunelveli collectorate

TIRUNELVELI: Less than a week after a family of four died of self-immolation at the Tirunelveli collectorate, a 54-year-old employee of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) attempted self-immolation at the same spot on Saturday afternoon.
The driver, Baskar from Ramayanpatti who is with the TNSTC for 22 years, said that he is being denied duty for a month as he is with the TTV Dinakaran faction of the AIADMK.
He claimed that he was recently announced as general secretary of the party's Anna Trade Union, Dinakaran faction, here and that TNSTC officials in the Vannarapetai Branch in Tirunelveli have been asking him to denounce the position and the Dinakaran faction.
"Since I refused to do that they have been refusing duty to me I am depressed and want to end my life," he said. Baskar who came to the collectorate by bike parked the two-wheeler close to the entrance and doused himself with petrol he had in an 'Amma' water bottle.
The man in tears was stopped by the police, who grabbed the bottle from him and the match box when he tried to set himself ablaze. The police then removed his shirt and poured water on him. He was taken under custody for questioning. Meanwhile, the police found a spare shirt and towel on his bike tank cover.