Chennai: Man climbs tower seeking lost love'

Chennai: In an attempt to patch up with his estranged girlfriend, a man went to great heights in the city on Thursday morning by climbing onto a mobile phone tower in Foreshore estate.

The man, in his early 20s, was identified as Rocky Raja of Saidapet. Around 7 am, he climbed onto the 70 feet tower and threatened to commit suicide. 

Police and the personnel from the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue services reached the scene in no time and attempted to pacify the man. 

He hung a cloth banner, which read, “I am so very sorry baby” and “I miss you” in another. Rescue personnel climbed up to negotiate with him while police tried to converse with him using a public address system and also set up safety nets around the tower.

He also suffered minor injuries in his neck as he made a cut with a knife he was carrying.  Police said the man also mentioned about various other issues such as investigation into the death of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, Neet exam among others. 

“After an ordeal of about four hours, he climbed down by himself,” a fireman with the Mylapore Fire station told DC.  He was moved to the Government Royapettah Hospital for treatment. Traffic was affected on Santhome High Road because of the incident. Police said that a case was booked against the man and he was remanded to judicial custody.