Date:18/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/18/stories/2006101824800300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Man attempts suicide

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: A 50-year-old man on Monday night climbed the tower of a mobile telephone service provider atop a building and threatened to jump from there. Amidst high drama that prevailed for nearly seven hours, the Fire and Emergency Service personnel persuaded Ramaiah get down from the tower located on 1st main, Mathikere.

Ramaiah reportedly assaulted a fire force personnel with an iron rod when he climbed the tower to rescue him.

Ramaiah, a resident of Mathikere, left his job in a cooperative bank three months ago. On Monday he asked his wife to come along with him to Chittoor. He left the house soon after she refused to do so.

Ramaiah climbed atop the mobile phone tower. Seeing this people nearby immediately called the fire services. Before the fire personnel could arrive Ramaiah removed his clothes and threatened to jump if anybody climbed up to rescue him.

As Ramaiah was narrating his problems, two firemen climbed up the tower. One of them took a rope and tied it around Ramaiah's waist. All the four firemen then slowly brought Ramaiah down.