Chennai: Kerosene vendor kills self over delay in licence renewal

CHENNAI: A 45-year-old kerosene vendor committed suicide by setting himself afire in front of the office of the assistant commissioner of civil supplies on Bharathi Salai near Moolakadai junction on Wednesday.
He died of burns at Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital later in the day. Police said he committed suicide as civil supplies officials sat on his petition to renew his kerosene vending licence for almost a month.
Police identified the deceased as Venkatesan, a resident of Mettu Street in Ernavoor near Ennore. He worked as a kerosene supplier. He used to supply the oil to at least 150 households in C Kalyanapuram near Vyasarpadi. His job was to collect kerosene from the civil supplies department and supply to the ration card holders. Police said he was into the job for less than a decade. He had to renew the licence regularly to supply the oil.
After his licence was expired a month ago, he applied for a renewal. However, the officials concerned from the civil supplies department had been sitting on it. It affected his work. Since he was the sole breadwinner of the family, he was depressed over the issue. Despite his repeated requests, officials allegedly did not budge. Sources said most visitors to the office saw him spending hours asking officials to speed up the work on a regular basis. However, when nothing worked, Venkatesh decided to end his life.
He went to the civil supplies department’s assistant commissioner’s office near Moolakadai junction, carrying kerosene in a bottle. He doused himself in the oil and set himself on fire. A few people tried to overpower him in vain.
Shocked over the incident, visitors to the office and officials informed police who sent Venkatesan to KMCH where he died. The Thiru-vi-ka Nagar police have registered a case and are investigating.