A 54-year-old farmer from Gujarat is recovering in a Vadodara hospital with severe burns after an alleged attempt at self-immolation, an incident that has led to the filing of an attempted murder case against the village sarpanch and four of her family members. The Anand district police have launched a manhunt for the accused, who are currently absconding.
The Incident and Immediate Aftermath
The dramatic event unfolded on Sunday in Ambav village, located in the Anklav district of Gujarat. The farmer, identified as Bharat Padhiyar, allegedly set himself on fire following a prolonged and bitter dispute. According to the police, the conflict stemmed from complaints of alleged corruption that Padhiyar had raised against the village sarpanch, Kokila Padhiyar.
Padhiyar suffered 35 per cent burns and was rushed to the SSG Hospital in Vadodara for emergency treatment. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Borsad Division, S P Kahar, confirmed that while video footage and initial witness accounts point towards a self-immolation attempt, the farmer's official statement is yet to be recorded due to his medical condition. "The victim is recovering. As per the doctors, he is out of danger," DySP Kahar stated.
FIR and the Accused on the Run
Based on Bharat Padhiyar's complaint, an FIR for attempted murder was registered on Tuesday against five individuals. The accused include Sarpanch Kokila Padhiyar, her husband Dinesh, her sons Nilesh and Rajesh, and her nephew Ashok. The complaint alleged that the family had repeatedly threatened Padhiyar for his actions in complaining about corruption.
"The victim and the accused were involved in a brawl just before the incident of immolation," explained DySP Kahar. "However, as there is an FIR filed based on the initial complaint of the victim against the sarpanch and four others, we are probing the extent of their role in the incident... The accused are on the run." The police are actively searching for them.
Contradictions in Corruption Complaints
The narrative surrounding the corruption complaints has taken a complex turn. Devahuti, the Anand District Development Officer (DDO), clarified that no formal complaint had been received from Bharat Padhiyar himself. Instead, the corruption allegations being referenced were filed by another villager, Ramesh Padhiyar, in October of the previous year.
"There are multiple complaints against the sarpanch of Ambav village that are under investigation but none of the complaints have been made by Bharat Padhiyar," Devahuti told the media. A committee was formed in November to probe these complaints, which pertain to various local matters and are currently "under inquiry." The DDO added that it is unclear if Ramesh Padhiyar is related to the victim in this case.
The police investigation now hinges on key questions. Once Bharat Padhiyar is medically fit to give a statement, officers will seek to ascertain where he obtained the fuel and the precise sequence of events that led to the extreme step. "We will piece together the events of the incident after recording his statement," affirmed DySP Kahar. The case continues to develop as authorities work to reconcile the conflicting accounts and bring the absconding accused to justice.
