The row started when Mugilan (27) a resident of Annanagar in Ambur town, married to Venila (25) and a father of three children, including a 6-month-old infant, went out onto the national highway.

He was stopped by the police who were checking vehicles and as he had no proper reply as to why he was out during the total lockdown, police seized his two-wheeler and parked it in a nearby school.

Mugilan made repeated entreaties to the policemen to return the vehicle and all went in vain. Dejected by it, he walked back to his house nearby and returned with a can full of kerosene poured on his body and set himself ablaze in front of the policemen. Shocked by his sudden act, policemen rushed and put out the blaze and rushed him to Ambur Government Hospital from where he was referred to the Vellore Government Medical College Hospital. However, as the victim’s family objected to this, he was rushed to the CMC Hospital. Ambur town police registered a case.

Meanwhile, Vellore range DIG N Kamini and SP P Vjayakumar visited the spot and conducted an inquiry. Police are checking footage from nearby CCTV cameras to get at the truth of his immolation bid.