In a bizarre incident, a 40-year-old auto-rickshaw driver from Bhiwandi in the Thane district called the police control room on Monday (August 1) claiming that he is a terrorist and set himself on fire outside Bhiwandi's Narpoli police station the next day.
The man was then taken to the nearby government hospital by the officials for treatment. "The man has received 20 per cent burns and getting treatment at the hospital, his condition is stable," said the police on Wednesday.
The auto-rickshaw driver has been identified as Niyaz Ansari.
Madan Ballal, senior police inspector, Narpoli police station, Bhiwandi said, "Ansari's loan on auto-rickshaw was pending with Bajaj Auto Finance company and after failing to pay the amount for 11 months, Bajaj Finance officials seized his auto-rickshaw. After his auto-rickshaw was seized, he in an inebriated condition called the police control room on Monday and said that he was a terrorist. On Tuesday, he came to Narpoli police station and asked the police constable to register a case of auto-rickshaw theft. We did not take his case so he went home which is nearby the police station and poured kerosene and charred himself outside the Narpoli police station. He was saved by the police personnel present on the spot and was admitted to the nearby hospital."
Ballal further added, "Ansari has sustained 20 per cent burns and he is stable now. We have appealed to the people to clear their dues if it is pending and not take to such actions. Meanwhile, a case under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 309 (attempt to commit suicide) has been registered against Niyaz Ansari. We will not be arresting him but will give him notice not to perform such act in the future."
One of the auto-rickshaw drivers from Bhiwandi on the condition of anonymity said, "The Bajaj Auto finance recovery team harass them for not clearing the dues forcing us to take such extreme steps. Police should seriously look into such matters."
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