Man Attempts Self-Immolation to Press Centre to Vote Against Sri Lanka in UNHR

S Mani was protesting against war crimes.

S Mani, 45 from Nallavadu, doused himself with kerosene and set himself ablaze while raising slogans against the Union government for failing to protect the Sri Lankan Tamils.

(CUDDALORE) - With heat on the Sri Lanka issue picking up, a 45-year-old man attempted self-immolation to press the Union government to vote against Sri Lanka United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for war crimes.

Police said S Mani, 45 from Nallavadu, arrived at the Cuddalore collectorate in northern Tamil Nadu with a can of kerosene. He doused himself with kerosene and set himself ablaze while raising slogans against the Union government for failing to protect the Sri Lankan Tamils, many of whom were killed in the civil war in the island nation.

Policemen on duty and passersby rescued him and admitted him in the Cuddalore government general hospital.

Mani is battling for life after sustaining severe burn injuries in the suicide bid.

A few members of pro-Tamil outfits and parties supporting LTTE had committed self-immolation in recent years demanding action against the Sri Lankan government for human rights violation during the fag end of the ethnic war between the government and the LTTE.

However, police claimed that Mani could have resorted to the extreme step because his family failed to get the Tsunami relief and rehabilitation package.

Man attempts self-immolation in anti-Sri Lanka protests: Chennai, March 4 (IANS) Forty-one-year-old Mani of Cuddalore district Monday suffered serious burn injuries after he attempted self-immolation, demanding action against Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for war crimes, police said.

Speaking to IANS over phone, a police official in Cuddalore district said: "Mani, father of three children, attempted self-immolation at the collectorate shouting slogans against the Sri Lankan president. He was shifted to a hospital in Chennai after initially being admitted to a government hospital in Cuddalore."

The police official said Mani has suffered serious burn injuries.

Meanwhile, MDMK general secretary Vaiko and several other pro-Tamil groups were arrested by police for picketing the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission here, demanding a probe against the Sri Lankan government for war crimes.

The protestors also demanded that India support the US-sponsored resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

According to police, around 400 protestors were arrested.

Lawyers in Madras High Court here and the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court boycotted the court proceedings, expressing support to the cause of Lankan Tamils.

Meanwhile, the DMK-supported Tamil Eelam Supporters' Organisation (TESO) will picket the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission here Tuesday, on a day when the US is expected to bring its resolution against the island nation at UNHRC.

Indian political parties are demanding action against Sri Lanka for its alleged war crimes.