more-in Eighteen members of a joint family, including eight children, attempted self-immolation in front of the District Collectorate here on Monday, after a common pathway used by the family was reportedly blocked by a neighbour. The police said Thangapandian, 28, a farmer of Nochikadu, his wife Senthamizhselvi, two children and his brother Maruthapandi’s family came to the Collectorate at the Grievances Day programme on Monday. Mr. Thangapandian and his family members doused themselves with kerosene. However, police personnel on duty thwarted their attempt. In his petition, Mr. Thangapandian said the common pathway to their house located on a government poramboke land was blocked by his neighbour Sengalvarao. Consequently, the family members were unable to come out of their residence, he said. Borrower takes poison In another incident, a 46-year-old farmer from Chidambaram consumed poison after being allegedly harassed by a money lender. He was taken to the Cuddalore Government General Hospital. In his petition, Krishnan said that he borrowed ?1.20 lakh from three persons in three instalments. Although Krishnan repaid ?85,000, the group harassed him. The petitioner alleged that the group had forcibly taken his land worth ?2.50 lakh. He took the extreme step because he did not get a response to his complaints to the police.

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