Salem: Man who attempted self-immolation dies

A man who tried to attempt self-immolation here protesting the proposed visit of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse to India died on Tuesday, the police said.

Twenty-six-year-old Vijayaraj, an auto driver, died at the Mohan Kumaramangalam Government Hospital, where he was admitted on Monday with 95 per cent burns after he doused himself with petrol and set himself afire.

Police said a diary, written in Tamil, was recovered from him, in which he stated that if Rajapakse visited Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh this week to lay the foundation stone for an International Buddhist University, it would be shameful to Indians, especially Tamilians.

He had also written that Katchatheevu islet, which was ceded to Sri Lanka by India through an agreement in 1974, should be retrieved from the island nation. Heavy police picketing was posted in premises of the hospital and district collectorate, police said.

Several parties, including the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam led by Vaiko, have opposed the visit of Rajapakse, who is held responsible by parties in Tamil Nadu for the alleged war crimes against civilian Tamils in the island nation during the 2009 Eelam war.

Vaiko has announced that he would lead a black flag demonstration in Sanchi against Rajapakse's visit.