Chennai: Narikuravar Man Sets Himself On Fire On HC Premises, Dies. 'Was Denied Caste Certificate'

Velmurugan who was depressed over the delay in receiving the caste certificate from officials took the extreme step at the court complex in Chennai.

A hand of a deceased person (Image for representation/Pixabay)

Chennai: A 45-year-old man from Narikuravar community–an indigenous group from Tamil Nadu–set himself on ablaze at Madras High Court complex on Tuesday. The man took the decision since he was denied a community certificate. 

According to a report on The New Indian Express, Velmurugan of Padappai in Kancheepuram district applied for a community certificate. However, he did not receive it. Hence, he got depressed over the delay in issuing the certificate and was also frustrated since he was made to run from pillar to post to get the certificate. 

So, he visited the court premises and set himself ablaze near the mediation center at the Court.

The people including police and advocates who heard his cry tried to rescue him and put out the fire. However, he suffered severe burn injuries. Later, he was taken to the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital.

On Wednesday, Velmurugan died without responding to treatment. 

The police have registered a case and the investigation is on. 

Earlier, Narikuravars were categorized under Most Backward Classes while the subcastes were categorized under the Scheduled Tribes category. The different categorizations created a lot of confusion and forced them to run from pillar to post for receiving birth certificates and community certificates.

Last month, the Centre gave the nod to include Narikoravan and Kurivikkaran communities to the list of Scheduled Tribes category in Tamil Nadu. 

Following this, TN CM Stalin welcomed the union cabinet's decision and said that the victory was due to the continued efforts of the state. 

He said that he wrote a letter to PM Modi as promised in his party's manifesto seeking the inclusion of the two communities to the ST list and elaborated on it to the Lokur committee's recommendation in 1965.