Salem: Timely intervention by alert police and security personnel helped to foil a self-immolation bid by a family of five including three children before the Collectorate here.
A 40-year-old farmer, Jayaraj of Gengavalli, along with his 35-year-old wife, Kalaichelvi, their 11-year-old daughter Sharmila, and two sons, Sarathy, 9, and Aravindan, 4, who had reached here for the weekly grievances day, attempted doused themselves with kerosene near the Collectorate entrance and attempted to burn themselves. But police and other security personnel there aborted their suicide bid.
Inquiries with the distressed farmer revealed that Jayaraj had taken five acres of agriculture land on lease from another farmer in the area for cultivation, but some miscreants thwarted him from cultivating the land by blocking the pathway to the farm with a fence of thorns and frequently threatened Jayaraj.
Jayaraj had preferred a local police complaint at the Athur DSP office, but to no avail, police said. Hence, a broken-hearted Jayaraj came with his family to the Salem Collectorate on Monday and attempted suicide with his family members. Jayaraj was later permitted to hand over his petition to the Salem collector, Ms. Rohini Bhajubhakare, who assured the farmer to take appropriate remedial action.
