HYDERABAD, June 18: A young man attempted self-immolation outside the local press club on Monday in protest against the Market police for supporting a group of criminals including a woman allegedly involved in immoral activities.

Ghulam Abbas Panwhar doused himself in kerosene oil, drank some from the oil bottle and was about to put match to his clothes before his family members moved to save him. He was saved but the oil he had drunk caused tremors in his body.

The women members of the family including his mother Roshan Ara Panwhar and maternal aunt Mrs. Khursheed Panwhar raised slogans against Mumtaz Chandio, Zafar Ali Chandio, Babu Chandio and Ambreen alias Guddi. They were carrying placards inscribed with slogans against them and investigation wing official of Market police Manoj Kumar.

Mrs. Khursheed Panwhar said that she was headmistress of a government primary school and had to seek pre-arrest bail after an FIR was lodged against her and her family members including Tariq Pathan, Ayaz Ahmed, Roshan Ara Panwhar, Aftab Panwhar and Khursheed Panwhar.

She said that when they took notice of eunuchs dancing near Panwhar Masjid in Tando Wali Mohammad it annoyed den operators and led to scuffle which followed FIRs lodged with police but no action had so far been against the accused. The petition is pending in court.