26/11 martyr’s uncle succumbs to self-immolation bid

NEW DELHI - K. Mohanan, the paternal uncle of 26/11 martyr Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, succumbed to injuries sustained in a self-immolation bid, doctors said Saturday.

Mohanan, who suffered 98 percent burn injuries after a self-immolation attempt Thursday evening, died Friday around midnight. He was admitted to the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital following the self-immolation attempt. He was allegedly disturbed over his nephew’s death.

“Although we were constantly keeping an eye on his position, he succumbed to burn injuries Friday night 11:55,” a doctor at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital said.

According to the police, 56-year-old Mohanan 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.

“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.

“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. Mohanan was the younger brother of Sandeep’s father K. Unnikrishnan.

K. Unnikrishnan, who arrived here Friday to see his brother, said: “Whatever Mohanan has written is his personal opinion and we have nothing to do with it. Our son has received all respect from the government of India. Mohanan was very fond of Sandeep. We thought he had overcome Sandeep’s loss but he ended up doing this.”

Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who was in the National Security Guard, died in the assault on the Taj Hotel in Mumbai against terrorists in the Nov 26-29, 2008 attack.

Mohanan, hailing from Kerala, is survived by his wife, son and daughter.

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