Police personnel prevented a suicide attempt at the city police commissioner’s office in Egmore by a man who alleged that the cops had failed to trace his missing wife.
Arulnathan, 32, of Pantruti in Cuddalore doused himself with kerosene and tried to set himself on fire near the grievance meeting hall when police personnel overpowered him and poured water over him. “He has been admitted to hospital. We are doubtful about his mental stability,” the police said.
Arulnathan claimed that he married Vasanthi and they had two children before he went abroad in 2005. He said that he returned to India last year and has since then been searching for his wife, who was working as policewoman when he left the country, at the bases of various police battalions. However, he failed to trace her.
The man also claimed that though he had approached the police many times, the department had taken no action.
Police officials stationed at the city commissioner’s office later said that they were doubtful about the story and also were not convinced that he had married a policewoman named Vasanthi.