Man threatens to commit suicide if Saddam's relatives not 'spared'

New Delhi, Jan 4 (UNI) A 30-year-old man threatened to jump from a high-tension electricity tower in Gandhi Nagar area of East Delhi this morning, demanding the Centre denounce hanging of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and lobby for sparing his relatives from impending hanging.

Mohammad Chand, claiming to be the district president of Samajwadi Party in Seelampur area, went atop a high-tension wire tower near Shastri Park Metro station in Gandhi Nagar in the morning and demanded that government initiate action to prevent the impending hanging of the relatives and supporters of Saddam Hussein, sources said.

Following the incident power supply in the area was snapped as officials tried hard to persuade him to come down.

Threatening to jump from the 50-feet tower, if the government failed to concede to his demands besides condemning Saddam Hussein's hanging, Chand came down after much persuasion at about 1700 hrs.

Sources later said, Chand's protest was part of the Samajwadi Party's observance of 'Black Day' today against the hanging of Saddam Hussein.

A case against him has been registered under Section 309, police said.

UNI