PTI

Patna, Aug 16: A case of abetment of suicide has been registered against 'unknown' mediapersons of a private news channel for allegedly egging on a dejected private transporter to immolate himself in Bihar's Gaya district on Independence Day.

"We have registered a case against some unknown mediapersons of a private TV news channels under section 306 of IPC for aiding and abetting the suicide of Manoj Mishra on the basis of complaint by a guard of a private security agency posted at the public sector Sudha Dairy late last night," district superintendent of police Amit Jain told PTI.

Maintaining that the episode was initiated by mediapersons, Jain said they had accompanied Mishra and even made available diesel and a matchbox to aid his self-immolation bid.

"The media people fully knew the intention of the deceased and still allowed him to proceed with his plan to commit suicide and went on shooting the scene," he said and alleged that when the media crew realised that the man was badly burnt, they fled the place before the police arrived.

"No attempt was made by the mediapersons to save the poor chap and it was only after some dairy staff saw the fire and smoke billowing from the man's body that the rescue work began. But by that time irreparable damage had already been done," Jain said.

Mishra, a private transporter, had set himself ablaze allegedly because the dairy, which owed him over Rs two lakh, was not clearing the dues and had even decided to discontinue his services, pushing him and his family to the brink of starvation. He suffered 60 per cent burns and was shifted to the Patna Medical College and Hospital, where he died.

General manager of the district unit of the dairy UC Verma has denied that the dairy owed any money to Mishra.