Man held for setting fire to gas cylinder on parked truck in Kottayam

A 33-year-old man was taken into custody after he climbed onto a stationary truck loaded with cooking gas cylinders and ignited one of them near Thalayolaparambu in Kottayam during the early hours of Saturday, according to the police. The incident happened at around 12.30 am.

Fire and rescue personnel reached the spot promptly and doused the flames, preventing what could have escalated into a severe accident.

Police said the man appeared to be experiencing mental distress. He reportedly told officers that he had been walking from Ernakulam to his home in Marangattupilly when he noticed the truck parked along the road.

An FIR has been registered against him under Sections 329(3) (criminal trespass), 324(2) (mischief), and 326(f) (mischief involving injury, fire, inundation or explosive substances) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Officers confirmed that he has been formally arrested but will be granted station bail as the charges filed are bailable. "His family is here at the station and he will be released to them," the officer said.

The FIR notes that the man broke the seal of one of the cylinders and set it ablaze despite being aware of the danger it posed to people nearby.