A 28-year-old man, who attempted self-immolation allegedly over the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, succumbed to his injuries in Tamil Nadu on Friday.

Vikram, battling for his life at a government hospital in Chennai after he set himself ablaze at suburban Nerkundram on Thursday evening, died this morning, police said.
  
Tamil Nadu has been witnessing protests by several pro-Tamil groups and students demanding that Sri Lankan government be made accountable for alleged war crimes.

Police said, Vikram, who was spotted in a public meeting organised to espouse the cause of suffering Sri Lankan Tamils at suburban Redhills last night, doused himself with kerosene and set himself ablaze.

Vikram, who suffered more than 80 per cent burns, was rushed to Kilpauk Medical College hospital, where he succumbed to injuries this morning.

Vikram shouted pro-eelam slogans and also denounced the Sri Lankan government for indulging in genocide of innocent Tamils during the final phase of the war with the LTTE in May 2009.

He was the second person to sacrifice his life on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue in the recent past after Mani, a Naam Tamizhar outfit activist, had committed self-immolation at Cuddalore early this month.

Vikram’s self immolation coincided with the passage of the US Resoltuion against Lanka at the UNHRC meeting in Geneva that called for a detailed probe into the allegations of war crimes and massive human rights violations during the end stages of the war.

Agencies