Man arrested in Mumbai after attempting self-immolation over Lord Vishwakarma statue removal

A 38‑year‑old man from Solapur district was booked after he attempted to immolate himself in south Mumbai on Wednesday, reportedly distraught over the removal of a religious statue in his hometown, police said.

The incident occurred at Usha Mehta Chowk in Nariman Point when the man, identified as Dadaso Baban Kalsait , arrived at the busy junction and poured a flammable liquid on his body with the apparent intention of setting himself on fire . Bystanders and passers‑by quickly intervened and restrained him before any fire was set, and he was subsequently taken into police custody, officials said.

Police said Kalsait, a resident of Takli village in Solapur district, had been deeply upset by the recent removal of a statue of Lord Vishwakarma in his native area. The statue had been installed without official permission on land belonging to the Lohar Samaj , a local community group, and was dismantled by local authorities a few days before the attempted self‑immolation, according to investigators.

A case has been registered against Kalsait under Section 226 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita , which pertains to an attempt to commit suicide. Police are also examining whether there were any other underlying reasons for his drastic action.

The episode comes amid another unrelated incident in Mumbai on the same day in which a different man attempted to burn himself outside the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan (state assembly building) , but was stopped and detained by police before any serious harm occurred. Authorities are investigating that case separately, and a motive has not yet been confirmed.