Chennai: The former student of a private engineering college, who set himself on fire on Tuesday in front of his college on OMR in Semmanchery, died on Wednesday in Kilpauk medical college where he was admitted with 70 per cent burns.
On Tuesday, 24-year-old Madhan Kumar, a former student of Jeppiaar Engineering College near Semmenchery, attempted to commit suicide in front of the institution after dousing himself in kerosene after an argument with the staff of the college over returning his original documents.
According to the police, Madhan Kumar from Virudhunagar, was studying for MCA at the engineering college and used to visit it to clear the arrears. “Around 11.30 am on Tuesday, he walked into the college premises and poured the fuel on his body and set himself on fire. We were told he had argument with some staff over returning his documents. He was also fighting with them saying he was being targeted and deliberately made to ‘fail’. We have not yet received a copy of his dying declaration. We are yet to summon the college staff over his suicide,” Semmanchery police inspector said when contacted. Police have also probing to find out if he had committed suicide because of any sexual harassment from a department staff.
His brother who rushed to Chennai to receive the body told this newspaper that Madhu Kumar was continuously fighting with the college to get back his certificates. “My brother had some issues with the head of the department. We don’t know why the college administration was holding back his certificates,” he added.
Police said he was carrying the kerosene bottle in his bike when he went from Alandur, where he was staying. It appears he was anticipating a problem. After the argument with the college staff, he went to his bike to take out the petrol and set himself on fire. The security personnel who noticed his action had rushed him to the Kilpauk Medical College hospital.
