A painter in Chennai's Puzhal area set himself ablaze after he was beaten up by a police inspector for not paying his house rent.

Srinivasan, a painter who was living with his family in Puzhal area in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, could not pay rent for four months as he did not have a job and was out of any income due to the lockdown.

He was repeatedly asked to vacate his rented accommodation by his landlord. The house owner, Rajendran, who is a member of a political party, lodged a complaint at Puzhal Police Station.

Srinivasan has alleged Puzhal Police Inspector Sam Benson came to his house and beat him up black and blue in front of his wife and children.

Dejected by this, Srinivasan set himself ablaze and sustained serious burn injuries.

He was admitted at Kilpauk Government Hospital with more than 80 per cent burn injuries.

The inspector has been suspended.