Cabbie sets self ablaze alleging abuse by police

The victim, R Manikandan (21), who was allegedly abused and assaulted by a group of traffic policemen, is undergoing treatment at KMC.

The incident occurred when he was stopped near SRP Tools bus stop and was asked to show documents by the policemen on duty. Despite doing so, he was allegedly fined for not wearing a seat belt. Angered by this, the victim accused them of extorting bribe money to which the police allegedly assaulted him. Manikandan then bought a can of petrol, doused himself with it and set himself ablaze in front of the police.

Velachery traffic sub-inspector Thamaraiselvan and a few others stopped and asked him for the vehicle papers. Despite showing them the documents, the policemen allegedly fined him for not wearing seat belt. Angered by this, Manikandan allegedly shouted that policemen are receiving bribe even while trying to capture a video of them on his mobile phone.

However, the traffic police allegedly snatched the mobile phone and his driver licence. Manikandan, later in a video clip sent by him on WhatsApp, claimed that the police assaulted him using an iron rod. Upset over the this, Manikandan allegedly drove away the car to a nearby petrol bunk and bought petrol in a can. He returned to the same spot, doused himself in petrol in front of the policemen and attempted self-immolation. Shocked, police officials poured water over Manikandan. 

Onlookers and other motorists helped to get Manikandan into an ambulance. Only after they resorted to a road blockade, Taramani police rushed to the spot and dispersed the crowd. Later, Manikandan was taken to Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. 

City Police Commissioner visited Manikandan at the hospital, after which he told mediapersons that action would be taken against the culprits after an inquiry. With Manikandan suffering 59 per cent burns, he is being monitored in critical care unit.

Police said Thamaraiselvan had been transferred to control room and put on vacancy reserve. A departmental enquiry has been ordered into the incident.

Meanwhile, two videos of Manikandan are being circulated on WhatsApp. In one of the videos, Manikandan has claimed that the police abused him by calling his caste name and spoke badly about his sisters. It looks like he addressed the video to his owner Venkatesan since he often mentioned ‘Anna’ in the 50-second video. In another video shot by a passer-by, Manikandan with burns explains why he attempted self-immolation. Meanwhile, police sources said that a case will be registered by Taramani police