Tamil Nadu: Son Dies After Setting Himself Ablaze Upset Over Police Case Against Father For Complaining On Dead Lizard In Govt's Pongal Gift Kit

A 36-year old man died of burn injuries in a government hospital in Chennai after setting himself ablaze upset over police filing a non-bailable offence against his father for complaining on the poor quality of Pongal gift voucher, News 18 Tamil reported.

Kuppusamy, who hails from Thiruthani and owns a private company in Chennai, was reportedly upset about police filing a case against his father for complaining against insect infested Pongal gift hamper distributed by the local PDS(public distribution system) outlets, popularly knows as 'ration shop.'

The ruling DMK government is distributing Pongal Gift Hampers to 2.15 crore PDS card holders. Each Pongal Gift Hamper will comprise of 20 items -raw rice, jaggery, cashew nuts, dry grapes, cardamom, moong dal, ghee required for preparing sweet pongal, turmeric powder, chilli powder, coriander powder, mustard, jeera, pepper, tamarind, Bengal gram, urad dal, rava, wheat flour, salt and a cloth bag

In a departure from usual practice which invited the wrath of a section of public and opposition parties, there was no cash component in the gift hamper of the DMK government. The gift scheme has been marred by many complaints of poor quality of items in the kit, especially jaggery.

Kuppusamy's father Nandan is local functionary of ADMK. His father has received the Pongal gift hamper given by the Tamil Nadu government last week. When he went home and saw the Pongal set, there was a dead lizard in the Pongal gift hamper.

Shocked by the insect infested hamper, Nandan demanded an explanation from the local ration shop employee. The ration shop employee is said to have abused Nandan

Nandan also informed the local media about finding a lizard inside the hamper. Few TV channels and newspapers also covered the incident.

Enraged by the adverse media coverage, ration shop salesman Saravanan lodged a complaint against beneficiary Nandan at the Thiruthani police station.

Based on complaint, a local police officer Ramesh filed a case making it as out as a non-bailable offence.

Nandan, who was deeply upset by the incident, has been telling his family that he is going to attempt suicide.

The police action had received strong condemnation from opposition leader and former Chief Minister Edapaddi Palanisamy.

In a tragic turn of events, Kuppusamy suddenly went inside his room and set himself ablaze. Hearing his screams as he tried to commit suicide, the public. The neighbours rushed into the house after hearing his screams and tried too put off the flame. He was initially rushed to the Thiruthani Government Hospital but later dies in a government hospital hospital in Chennai