Man attempts suicide near PM's residence

A businessman stops his car near a police van positioned opposite the PM's residence across the road and shoots himself in the shoulder with a gun.

Security outside Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's official residence was beefed up on Thursday following a suicide attempt by a businessman.

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Kishori Lal Saigal reportedly stopped his Maruti Zen near a police control room van positioned opposite the prime minister's residence across the road and shot himself in the shoulder with a gun, highly placed sources said.

"Earlier we thought it was a property dispute. But our inquiries have now revealed that he was upset because his wife was having an affair," said a senior police officer.

"He wanted to attract attention and what better place to choose than an area near the prime minister's residence. We understand that Saigal had committed a similar act earlier."

Following the incident, Saigal was taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital where he was treated for his gunshot injury.

The entire high-security area surrounding the prime minister's residence was cordoned off as a precautionary measure but an hour after the incident, normal vehicular traffic resumed.

The incident is expected to spur the security establishment to have a closer look at traffic arrangements in the vicinity of the prime minister's residence.