Psychic sets self ablaze near police station

HYDERABAD: A ‘psychic’ set himself ablaze in front of the Langer Houz police station on Saturday. Pavan Kumar Sharma (40), son of Ram Dev Sharma, used to work in the graveyard. According to the police, Pavan had become a psychic while working in the graveyard along with his father and got addicted to the drinking vice. There were rumours that Pavan who murdered his father, made an attempt to kill his mother also. After the bid on her life by Pavan, his mother sold her small house at Gandimaisamma temple and left the place. At present, she is staying in Banjara Hills by working as a maid, Langer Houz police inspector C Madhumohan said.While taking shelter under the flyover, he befriended local auto drivers, who used to give him money for his food and other needs. Pavan would behave abnormally sometimes and inflict injuries on himself with blades and broken glass pieces, if anyone refused to give him money.Around 11.30 am, Pavan set himself ablaze. Some locals and police put out the flames and rushed him to Osmania General Hospital. The condition of Pavan is stated to be critical. Denying the report that he was an informer, the police said he used to frequent the police station to serve tea or snacks to policemen, for which he would be paid `10 or more. He came to the police station on Friday night, a police officer said, adding that Pavan used to tell about quarrels or petty fights that take place in the locality.