A 21-year-old taxi driver set himself on fire on the busy Rajiv Gandhi Salai here on Wednesday after he was allegedly roughed up by traffic police constables for not wearing the seat belt and violating traffic rules.
The driver has been identified as Manikandan, a native of Sankarankovil in Tirunelveli. Driving a sports utility vehicle, he had dropped a customer in Thiruvanmiyur and was on Rajiv Gandhi Salai when he was stopped by the traffic police near SRP Tools at 11.30 a.m. for jumping the signal. The police took his vehicle aside.
A senior police officer said the traffic personnel issued a challan for ₹100 for the violation, which Manikandan paid. Instead of driving away, Manikandan stood there and used his mobile phone to videograph the personnel stopping other motorists flouting traffic rules. The traffic policemen objected to his taking the video. A heated argument ensued and they came to blows, said the officer.
Nearly two hours later, Manikandan returned to the spot, poured petrol and set himself on fire. He was rushed to the Government Kilpauk Hospital.
The police are probing the circumstances leading to the suicide attempt.
