In a shocking incident, a youth burned himself alive in protest against his sister’s affair with a local boy. Sachin Bankar Sable (25), an agricultural science graduate, took his life by immolating himself early on Saturday at around 1.30 am. After sustaining 80 per cent burns, Sachin succumbed to his wounds the same morning at around 10 am at a municipal hospital in Vashi.
Sachin, a resident of the Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar in the CBD Belapur slums, was dead against his sister Sonali’s affair with a local youth; so were other members of his family. His neighbours and friends would allegedly tease him about Sonali roaming around with the youth, which he found embarrassing.
On Friday night, Sachin reportedly came home in an inebriated state and started threatening to kill himself as a mark of protest against Sonali’s affair. “He was blaming his family for not being able to curtail her escapades,” a friend of Sachin’s said, requesting anonymity.
According to the friend, Sachin was heard saying, “All of you will now have to see my dead body. Come to my funeral tomorrow and repent for the rest of your life.” Sachin had also purportedly called some relatives in Latur and told them to prepare themselves for his death. “We thought he was blabbering under the influence of the alcohol, but it turned out that he had also arranged for some kerosene,” said the friend.
After reaching home that night, Sachin briefly quarrelled with his parents over his sister’s affair and made the same threat — to kill himself — before forcing everyone inside the house and locking them in. He then woke up the owner of a small grocery store and bought a matchbox. Sachin then went to the area behind the shop and set himself on fire.
The shop owner heard the screams and rushed out; when he saw the flames on Sachin, he immediately tried to douse the fire.
The commotion disturbed other residents of the locality, who also rushed forward to help. He was then taken to the municipal hospital in Vashi where he succumbed to his burn injuries.
The medical officer from the hospital filed an accidental death report (ADR) with the CBD Belapur police the same morning. “We will record the statements of his family members after a few days and take the necessary course of action. Further inquiries are on,” said police sub-inspector Sonawane, who is also the investigating officer in the case.