The Kerala Police said late Thursday night that a 55-year-old man, who died after setting himself afire near the venue of the BJP's protest here, had committed suicide due to personal reasons and do not have any relation to the ongoing agitation over Sabarimala issue.
Calling a statewide strike on Friday over the death, the Bharatiya Janata Party claimed that the man immolated himself protesting the "adamant" stand of the state government, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, over the issue of continuing prohibitory orders and restrictions at the Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala.
"The deceased, in his dying declaration given to the Magistrate, said he resorted to the act due to depression and ran frantic towards the protest venue after setting himself afire," the police said in a release.
Police said the man, who used to work as a plumbing and electrician assistant, do not have any political connections.
"This matter is not connected with any ongoing protest over Sabarimala," the police said.
Meanwhile, Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran on Thursday night lashed out at the BJP's call for strike and said the saffron party was trying to provoke the police. "Tomorrow's strike is the result of desperation faced by the BJP due to failure of its plan to create 'balidanis' (martyrs) by provoking the police at Sabarimala and other places."