‘Suicide video’ shows accomplice helped set Chittaranjan on fire

Till now, it appeared that Chittaranjan had immolated himself. However, the full video footage of the incident — a copy of which is in the possession of this paper — shows that after Chittaranjan failed to set himself on fire, an accomplice approached him from behind, with a box of matches, and did it for him.

‘‘We also have possession of the footage, which we got much earlier, and have registered a case of murder. We are currently investigating the matter,’’ said Davas. He refused to comment on whether police had made any arrests so far. Manipur Principal Secretary (Home) A.E. Ahmed refused to comment on the matter.

Initial footage shows Chittaranjan in profuse sweat, wearing a grey shirt and maroon tie, signing four sets of documents. The scene then shifts outdoors, onto a road with some shops. After he fails to set himself on fire with a lighter, Chittaranjan appeals to accomplices off-camera. One comes up from the front with a box of matches. When a trembling Chittaranjan again fails to light a match, another accomplice, this time from the back, proceeds to strike a match and set Chittaranjan on fire.

Chittaranjan does not seem to notice at first that he is on fire — when he does, he breaks into a run towards the right, finally prostrating himself in a muddy puddle, where a police constable and other unidentified men come forward to help him douse the flames. The footage then shows Chittaranjan on a bed in an emergency ward, with a nurse applying ointment on his back. The video closes with footage of a completely bandaged Chittaranjan, scarcely able to breathe, the skin on his forehead entirely burnt and blistering.