Kathmandu, July 9 -- Ganesh Nepali, who set himself on fire outside the Department of Passports in Tripureshwar, Kathmandu, on Thursday, appears to have been distressed by repeated encounters with Kathmandu Metropolitan City police, according to his family and messages he sent a week before the incident.

On June 27, Ganesh had sent a message to his nephew Mann Nepali. It read: "The city police put a lock on my motorcycle when I went to collect goods yesterday. Now, I have to pay Rs1,000." The message ended with two crying emojis.

Mann said Ganesh had often complained about troubles caused by the metropolitan police while working as a ride-hailing driver. At times, he said, Ganesh had to pay fines twice on the same day.

Ganesh's elder b...