A 58-year-old man allegedly died by suicide by setting himself on fire on a pyre he himself prepared near the grain market in Sangrur’s Cheema village.
Police said although the reason for the extreme step had yet to be determined, they recovered two letters in his handwriting, detailing financial issues between him and his cousin, and the materials needed for the pyre.
Deputy superintendent of police Harvinder Singh Khaira said police received information on Tuesday about a fire in the grain market. On reaching the spot, police discovered a burning pyre on a modified mini-truck and a charred body.
He said preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased parked the wood-laden truck near the bus stand a day before the incident. The following day, he arrived at the spot on a cycle, parked it, and drove the truck to the grain market, where he set himself on fire.
He leaves behind his wife and a son, who lives in Pune with his wife.
Police have registered a case under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita following a statement by the deceased’s son.