A Ghatkopar resident attempts suicide for public toilet

A 40-year-old man, Sudam Shinde tried to commit suicide in front of the municipal commissioner's office in the BMC headquarters on Monday. He alleged that N ward officials had declared a public toilet block 'dilapidated' within six months of construction and had illegally given permission to demolish it. Shinde was later handed over to the police.

Shinde had brought with him a bottle of kerosene which he attempted to pour over himself. The municipal commissioner was not present when the incident took place. The security guards on the floor immediately confiscated the bottle of kerosene and called the police. Shinde said that the toilet block at Ram Joshi Marg has been built on government land and is used by 1,500 people in Ghatkopar. "The toilet is in good condition but the local civic officers, under the influence of some builder, have put it under C1 - the most dangerous category," alleged Sudam Shinde, a Ghatkopar resident. He added, "Despite several complaints to the civic and state authorities, everyone is ignoring the matter. Thus, I have taken this step."