Davanagere, 11 Jan

Senior BJP leader Chandrashekhar Sankol, who was also a former Davanagere Municipal Corporation member, committed suicide on Tuesday by setting himself on fire inside his car near Naganur village on the city’s outskirts.

Police said he took the extreme step due to severe domestic problems. Chandrashekhar reportedly poured petrol inside the vehicle and immolated himself in a garden area near Naganur.

Sources said the incident followed a family crisis in which his two children had earlier attempted suicide and were hospitalised. Deeply distressed by their condition and domestic disputes, Chandrashekhar allegedly took the fatal decision while his children are undergoing treatment.

Police from the Hadadi police station rushed to the spot, conducted preliminary investigations, and registered a case. An inquiry is on to establish the circumstances behind the incident.