Elderly Man distressed over property dispute sets himself on fire in front of police station, dies at SSKM

An elderly man in Bhatar, East Bardhaman district, set himself on fire due to distress over a property dispute. He left his home under the pretext of going to the market but immolated himself in front of the Bhatar police station. Severely burnt, he was first taken to a local hospital and later transferred to Kolkata's SSKM Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday. The incident has caused a stir in the area.

The deceased has been identified as Sushanta Dutta, the owner of a large pond named ‘Santosh Sayer’ near Bhatar Bazaar. The pond is several years old, surrounded by multiple houses and shops. Sushanta Dutta had purchased the 1.73-acre pond about eight years ago and started fish farming in 2019. However, some local residents filed a court case claiming that the pond was government property. Due to the ongoing dispute, he was unable to gain possession of the pond, and the matter reached the Calcutta High Court.

Recently, the High Court directed the District Magistrate of Bardhaman to resolve the issue. Following this, the DM conducted two hearings on February 27 and March 3. According to Bhatar Block Land Reforms Officer Pradeep Mandal, the pond is government property. After the hearings, the DM rejected Sushanta Dutta's claim and also imposed a fine on him.

Distressed over losing ownership of the pond, Sushanta Dutta left home on Monday, claiming he was heading to the market, but instead, he went to the Bhatar police station and set himself on fire. Police and civic volunteers saw him in flames and tried to douse the fire with blankets. He was rushed to a local hospital and later shifted to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata, where he passed away on Tuesday. The incident has created a sensation in the area, and the administration is investigating the matter.