Angul: In a bizarre incident, a youth today attempted suicide by setting himself on fire outside the Pallahara police station in Angul district before rushing into the station to seek justice over an alleged love affair.
The victim happens to be a resident of Ishwar Nagar. Police sources claimed he took such a drastic step as he is mentally retarded.
According to reports, he stood outside the police station for some time and then suddenly immolated self and barged into the station. All police personnel present at the station during the incident rushed to him, managed to douse the fire and rescued him. He has been admitted to the hospital with critical burn injuries.
A Constable has also suffered a minor injury while trying to save the youth from danger.
Asked about the exact reason of self-immolation bid, the injured youth said, "I was in a relationship with a girl and we were supposed to marry. But to arrange money for the marriage, a relative of the girl forced her to get physical with several youths. When I learnt of this, I asked the girl not to indulge in such things."
"I told her, we love each other and there is no need to engage in illegal activities. But by then they blackmailed me with some obscene videos, and had kept my hair and nails. I was trapped. I couldn't get out of their trap. Her relative works with the police department. Neither did he allow me to marry her, nor was I allowed to leave. They are conspiring to kill me," the youth alleged.
The response of Pallahara Police with regard to the allegations could not be obtained.