New Delhi: A 20-year-old man is fighting for his life at Safdarjung Hospital here, after he reportedly set himself on fire over a married woman rejecting him.
The incident occurred on Thursday after the youth, identified only as Chotu, talked to the woman in Okhla Industrial area around 7 pm.
After talking to her, he suddenly set himself on fire. Onlookers tried rescuing him and soon rushed him to the hospital, where he is admitted with 70 per cent burn injuries. His condition is said to be critical.
"It was a one sided love affair. The lady did not want to talk to him, so he approached near her residence and immolated himself. He was immediately rushed to the hospital," said a police officer.
Police believe that the youth had been following the woman for a long time and since he did not get a positive response from her, he took the extreme step of attempting suicide to "prove his love" for the woman.
Sources said that after he set himself on fire, the youth rushed from one place to another, till people nearby tried to douse the flames by pouring water on him.
By the time the fire was doused, he had already sustained 70 per cent burn injuries.