Kalpetta: Police on Tuesday averted an attempt by KK James, who has been waging a 10-year-long agitation in front of the Wayanad District Collectorate, to self-immolate by pouring petrol over himself.

James and his family have been on an indefinite sit-in agitation in front of the Wayanad Collectorate since August 15, 2014, demanding the 12 acres of land owned by his wife's family that the forest department illegally took over.

James was provoked to take the extreme step after IUML workers damaged his hut during the commotion between the police and agitators who took out a march to the Collectorate demanding immediate implementation of the rehabilitation project for the survivors of the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide.

When the protesters refused to listen to his request not to damage his hut, an enraged James poured four litres of petrol he bought from a fuel station.

Though agitators tried to reason with James, he was adamant. But he calmed down after police personnel spoke to him and IUML leaders promised him to re-make his temporary hut.