Another suicide bid foiled by Mantralaya security

Mumbai: Mantralaya security officials on Monday foiled the suicide attempt of a man hailing from Dhule. According to police officials, the man, believed to be a worker with the Dhule municipal corporation, had doused himself with kerosene and was about to set fire to himself when the security personnel intercepted him and handed him to the Marine Lines police station for investigation.

The man was identified as Baban Yashwant Jhote but the reason for his suicide bid is not yet known. Mr Jhote had brought along a copy of a letter where he mentioned his ordeal and that he was in need of justice.

According to Mr Jhote, he had fought his case in a tribunal and won against his seniors. Notwithstanding, his department had not taken him back and his seniors were demanding bribes to get work done in his favour.

DCP zone one Dr Manoj Sharma told The Asian Age, “Mr Jhote poured kerosene on himself and was trying to immolate himself when the security personnel stationed outside saw him. They stopped him in the nick of time.”

“The Marine Drive police will investigate the matter. They have already recorded his statement,” he said.

Mantralaya has seen a series of suicide attempts over the past eight months. So much so that the government has tightened security in and around the premises in addition to installing safety nets inside the building so that people cannot jump from higher floors.

Past instances

• On January 22: Dharma Patil (84), a Dhule farmer, consumed poison on the Mantralaya premises, demanding adequate compensation for his land, which had been acquired by the government for a solar power project. He died in hospital on January 28.
• On February 8: Harshal Raote (45), a murder convict, committed suicide by jumping off the fifth floor of the building. After his suicide, the state government installed a safety net at the second floor to prevent further such incidents.
• On February 16: Sakhubai Karbhari Jhalte (65) attempted to end her life in front of Mantralaya, near Vidhan Bhavan by consuming cough syrup.
• On May 2: Ganesh Dilip Pawar (36), a volunteer associated with the Prakash Ambedkar-led Bharipa Bahujan MahaSangh (BBMS) from Ahmednagar, tried to commit suicide outside Mantralaya by pouring kerosene on himself. It was an attempt to press for arrest of right-wing leader Sambhaji Bhide for his role in the Bhima-Koregaon violence in January this year.