Ghaziabad: A 25-year-old man died after allegedly dousing himself in petrol and setting himself on fire in Modinagar on Saturday. Madhur Yadav, police said, had spent around 15 days searching online for ways to die quickly and with less pain, including whether to hang himself or burn alive.While the police are suspecting suicide, Madhur’s family has alleged it was a case of murder.A resident of Mangal Vihar Colony in Modinagar, Madhur had completed training for a stenographer’s job and was awaiting a joining letter for a post in the Rajasthan High Court. His father, Bijendra Yadav, is a section officer in the irrigation department.Amit Saxena, ACP (Modinagar), said that the incident occurred around 8.30pm on Saturday. “Madhur left home and went to a secluded place 2km away. There, he poured petrol on himself and set himself on fire,” he added.But before setting himself ablaze, Madhur undressed himself and folded his clothes nearby.“Some passersby saw him and took him to a nearby hospital. They also informed police. Later, he was sent to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, where he succumbed to his injuries,” Saxena said. Police said around 80% of his body was burnt.According to a senior officer, Madhur was in a relationship with a woman, but his family was not ready for his marriage. The officer said that during Diwali last year, he had set fire to his hand, and had even blocked the numbers of his mother and other family members on his phone a few days ago.“We are scanning his mobile phone. Initial investigation revealed that Madhur searched for 15 days for suicide methods that caused less pain. He also watched more than 25 such videos. Police found chats on his phone, which are being examined. The case is being investigated from all angles,” the officer said.The family, however, alleged that Madhur was murdered. His father, Jitendra Yadav, said he called Madhur at night and was told that he was at Bhagat Singh Chowk in Govindpuri and would return home soon. But his phone was later switched off.Yadav claimed an unknown person called from Madhur’s phone and told him his son had been set on fire on Niwari Road.The father alleged that while badly burnt, Madhur had named a youth called Abhishek and claimed the person sprayed something into his eyes before setting him on fire. A police complaint was later filed by his uncle, Bijendra Singh Yadav, against Abhishek.Saxena said that the police are checking the family’s allegations. For now, the cops are treating it as a case of suicide.
