New Delhi:
A 35-year-old man has allegedly set himself on fire in the parking lot of a government hospital in outer Delhi's Mongolpuri area, police said today.
The person, identified as Satbir Singh, was admitted in the hospital with around 90 per cent burn injuries and his condition is reported to be critical, DCP (Outer) Vikramjit Singh said.
According to the police, Mr Singh had a fight with his widowed sister-in-law Manju over some domestic dispute yesterday evening. Neighbours in the Mongolpuri locality reported a quarrel and a police official reached the spot.
When Manju, who alleged that Mr Singh had thrashed her severely, was taken to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital for a medico-legal counselling, Singh followed her.
When they reached the hospital, Mr Singh apparently developed fear that he would be arrested by the police based on Manju's complaint, and went to the parking lot, where he allegedly set himself ablaze.
The security guards there raised an alarm. Mr Singh was immediately rushed to the Intensive Care Unit, where he was admitted with around 90 per cent burn injuries.
"Satbir Singh feared getting arrested, despite there being no formal complaint reported by his widowed sister-in-law, and is suspected to have taken the extreme step out of fear. However, he left no note as such," said an official privy to the investigation.
During the investigation, it also emerged that Singh had poured fuel on himself before he leaving home, to follow Manju to the hospital, the official added.
Mr Singh, who is in whitewashing business, lives with his family at Mongolpuri. His widowed sister-in-law and her children also live in the same premises.
Neighbours told the police that the family often enters into quarrels for reasons ranging from use of the common water pump to scuffles among the children, the official added.