Upset with neighbour, 37-year-old sets himself ablaze in police station

Fed up of the local police's inaction against his unruly neighbour, a 37-year-old man set himself on fire inside the premises of the Malwani police station yesterday. He was later rescued from the flames by the cops and is recuperating in the hospital.

Officials at the spot inside the police station where Sonawane set himself ablaze

The man, identified as Mukesh Sonawane, entered Malwani police station and set himself on fire with a matchstick. He had already poured some flammable liquid on himself before entering the police station. He had set the lower part of his body on fire and ran to the senior police inspector's cabin, and stood outside. Immediately, cops at the station extinguished the flames and put blankets and clothes on Sonawane.

Unresolved issue
According to sources, Sonawane was upset because the police were not taking strict action against his neighbour. Sonawane is a resident of Kharodi village near the Malwani Church area, which is under the jurisdiction of Malwani police.

"There is dispute between the Sonawane family and their neighbour Joseph Gonsalves, over repair and renovation Sonawane family's hut," said Milind Khete, Senior Police Inspector from Malwani police
station.

Sonawane's mother had lodged a non-cognisable complaint against Joseph on February 13 as Joseph had abused her over the matter of the said hut.

The cops were working on her complaint but before they could do anything, Mukesh set fire to himself. He has suffered around 40 per cent burns and has been taken to a hospital for medical treatment.

"His treatment is going on and we are waiting for his medical report," Khete added.