Couple attempts self-immolation; Dramatic rescue op caught on camera

Bengaluru, Oct 12: As the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) continued its drive against encroachment to remove properties constructed on the Storm Water Drains (SWD), a couple in K R Puram threatened to commit suicide by pouring petrol if the authorities tried to demolish their house.

The couple, identified as Sunil and Sona Singh, are employees of a private firm and residents of Gayatri Layout in KR Puram.

When the officers came to demolish the house, in a fit of emotion, they poured petrol on themselves and threatened to immolate themselves.

"We were born and brought up here, and so far there was no problem why do you have a problem now? We are the citizens of Karnataka, not Pakistan," the couple told the police.

After much persuasion and convincing, the couple could be calmed down. Meanwhile, the police also promised them to help them get justice. The couple has two children and said that this is the only shelter they have.

Following the floods the city witnessed last month, the civic body said there are over 630 encroachments across the city to be removed. Earlier the Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka said the drive against the encroachments would continue without any discrimination between the rich and the poor.

It may be recalled that the BBMP had recently come under severe criticism from the Karnataka High Court for going slow on demolitions. The High Court warned BBMP that the court may have to withhold the wages of its engineers who are responsible for the demolition drives adding that an appropriate order will have to be issued against the Chief Commissioner of the BBMP.