While Yusuf, his son Mohammed Ali Shaikh (7) and daughter Shabha Shaikh (5), succumbed to their injuries in Cooper Hospital, his eldest son Mohammed Azeem Shaikh (10) survived with 25 per cent burn injuries and is undergoing treatment, police said.
Last night, police rushed to Ansari mohalla slums in Gilbert hill area after learning that Sheikh Mohammed Yusuf, along with his two sons Azeem and Mohammed Ali Shaikh (7) and daughter Shabha Shaikh (5), had suffered burn injuries due to blaze, following which they were rushed to the civic hospital.
Yusuf's wife had gone to Kolhapur when the incident took place.
Initially, police could not figure out the cause behind fire and were investigating whether it was accidental or deliberate.
"Now it has emerged that Yusuf had set self on fire after pouring kerosene. Then he embraced his son Mohammed Ali and daughter Shabha in the house. Since Azeem was sleeping on the mezzanine floor in the house, he managed to escape with 25 per cent burn injuries," V D Bhoite, senior inspector at D N Nagar police station, said.
Police said the provocation behind the drastic step taken by Yusuf was not known yet and they are recording the statement of his wife who has returned from Kolhapur.
