MALAPPURAM: The applicant, who set fire to the Keezhattoor panchayat office in protest against the non-allocation of a house under the LIFE project, attempted suicide by slitting his vein. The Melattur police arrested Keezhattoor Anappankuzhi native Mujeeb Rahman (47) in the incident.

The incident happened this afternoon. Rahman, who came to the panchayat office with a can full of petrol, poured petrol on the computers and files of the office and set them on fire after having an argument with the employees there. The accused told the police that he had wandered a lot to get a house in the LIFE project and that he did not get justice from the panchayat.

Only a few officials were in the office at the time of the incident as many officials had gone to have lunch. Several files and computers were damaged. The firefighters from Perinthalmanna reached the spot immediately and extinguished the fire. A loss of Rs 25 lakh is estimated. After setting the panchayat office to fire, Mujeeb Rahman went to the toilet inside the office and attempted suicide by slitting his vein. However, the police soon reached the spot and nabbed him before rushing him to the hospital. He has four stitches on his hand.

The accused told the police that his situation was very bad and that he committed the act because he did not get a house under the LIFE project. Mujeeb Rahman is 94th on the list of the panchayat. Currently, the panchayat is providing houses to the first 50 people on the list. The panchayat secretary and member had told Mujeeb Rahman that houses can be allotted only as per the list.