A 33-year-old autorickshaw driver tried to set himself ablaze in front of the civic commissioner’s office in Kalyan on Saturday. He was protesting alleged inaction against an illegal construction. The driver, Anandkumar Singh, is a resident of Beturkar Pada, Kalyan.
According to him, an illegal construction near his home had encroached upon his land, and the Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) was not taking any action against it. He alleged that despite several complaints to KDMC, including Commissioner Govind Rathod, the illegal construction was not demolished.
On Saturday evening, after meeting the commissioner, Singh came out, took a bottle of kerosene from his bag and poured it on himself. But, before he could light a match, security guards and KDMC staff grabbed hold of him.
Aziz Shaikh, an official from KDMC’s anti-encroachment department said, “We have taken action against the construction as per minicipal rules, but Singh wants it to be demolished, which is not possible.” According to Rathod, “Anti-encroachment officials had taken action against the construction, but some months ago the court issued a stay order on the construction. We can’t do much now.”
Bazarpeth police arrested Singh for attempting suicide.
