Karnataka Auto Driver Sets Himself Ablaze During Drink-And-Drive Check; Suffers 70 % Burns, Critical

A 38-year-old intoxicated auto-rickshaw driver in Karnataka’s Chitradurga set himself on fire after being stopped during a drink-and-drive inspection on Saturday night.

The incident occurred at Mahatma Gandhi Circle, where police had reportedly seized the auto belonging to the driver, identified as Thippeswamy. When asked to take a breathalyser test, he allegedly refused and began arguing with the officers. Moments later, he attempted to immolate himself.

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According to the NDTV report, police said, Thippeswamy initially intended to pour petrol on the ground, but since he was holding a bottle of fuel and some had spilled onto his T-shirt, the flames quickly spread to his clothes. He suffered severe burn injuries and was taken to a hospital, where doctors stated he has sustained nearly 70 percent burns and remains in critical condition.

According to the NDTV the video from the spot shows officers instructing him to sit inside his auto and warning him that driving under the influence could cause an accident. Thippeswamy is heard admitting he had consumed alcohol and alleging that police held him by the collar.

A case has been registered against him for attempting suicide with intent and for obstructing a public servant from performing official duties.

In a separate incident, a 50-year-old man from Qazigund, identified as Bilal Ahmad Wani, is in critical condition after allegedly setting himself on fire on Sunday. Distressed over the recent detention of his son and brother in a case linked to what officials describe as a “white-collar terror module” uncovered after the Red Fort blast probe, Wani poured petrol on himself and ignited it. He sustained severe burn injuries and was first taken to a local hospital before being shifted to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar. According to relatives, the detentions had pushed him into deep anxiety, and repeated requests to meet his son and brother were not granted.

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The incident has sparked sharp political reactions. Former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti accused the administration of “high-handedness,” stating that denying Wani permission to see his detained family members had driven him to despair. She urged the police to allow the meetings, warning that such actions only intensify public anguish. Police have not yet released an official statement on the self-immolation attempt or the circumstances surrounding the detentions linked to the alleged terror-financing network.