26/11 martyr’s uncle critical after attempted suicide

NEW DELHI - K. Mohanan, the paternal uncle of 26/11 martyr Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, was in a critical state Friday after immolating himself Thursday evening, doctors said.

“He is still critical. We are constantly keeping an eye on his position. He is on the ventilator and has 95 percent burn injuries,” T.S. Sidhu, medical superintendent at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, told IANS.

“It seems from his initial statements that he was unhappy over the way the victims of the Mumbai attacks were treated by the government. He was in a depressed state of mind,” said a doctor from the burns and plastic ward of the hospital.

According to the police, Mohanan, 35, poured kerosene on his body and set himself afire outside Gate No.4 of Parliament House near Vijay Chowk at around 6 p.m. Thursday evening.

“People who were at the spot tried to douse the fire and informed the police after which Mohanan was rushed to the hospital,” said a police officer, who did not wish to be identified.

In the suicide note written in Malayalam, Mohanan said that he was unhappy at the way the victims of the Mumbai attacks were being treated by the government. Mohanan is the younger brother of Sandeep’s father.

“He was also disturbed at the death of Sandeep. He wanted to feel the pain he might have suffered when he was shot at by the terrorists,” added the officer.

Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who was in the National Security Guard, died in the assault on the Taj Hotel in Mumbai against terrorists in attack.

Police had recovered a train ticket and notebook from Mohanan’s possessions. “We think that he reached the capital on Jan 30,” he said.