Man Started Fire & Set off 16 Explosions Outside Police Post to Express His Anti-Government Views

By
Shawn Ambrose
-

If you want to express your dissatisfaction with the government, there are several things you can do:

  1. Write to your MP
  2. Pen a passionate and lengthy diatribe on social media
  3. Anything but burn down a police station

Simple, right? Well, it appears not.

Man Started Fire & Set off 16 Explosions Outside Police Post to Express His Anti-Government Views

On 13 March last year, while Singaporeans were still coming to grips with the fact that they could no longer travel, Sivaprakash Mailravanan started a fire outside Kallang Neighbourhood Police Post (NPP).

He also set various items alight, including deodorant sprays, causing 16 explosions between 11.13pm and 11.23pm that day.

He even used an axe to smash glass panels at the police post and spray-painted “ISIS” on seven pillars in the area.

Well, because he was displeased with the government.
Over the last 10 years or so, Sivaprakash started developing antigovernmental views, including that government policies in Singapore were unfair and favoured the well-to-do.
He also believed the authorities were overly restrictive.
Over time, these beliefs kindled a deep resentment against the Singapore Government, which came to a head last year.
In Jan 2020, Sivaprakash decided to give “expression” to his views and considered staging a protest.
However, he decided against it as he believed it wouldn’t create the desired effect.
So he hatched a plan to target a police post and destroy government property to express his anger.
This included breaking the glass panels of the police post, smashing police cars if they were present, and then giving a speech when a crowd formed.
The 31-year-old Singaporean sketched out his plans in a notebook and headed to Mustafa Centre in March to purchase the necessary supplies for his plan – trash bags, cans of deodorant spray, mattresses, an axe, and a sledgehammer.
On the day of the incident, his brother found him transporting the items on a lorry from his home and confronted him.
Sivaprakash lied at first, but eventually admitted that he planned to “burn the NPP”.
His brother tried to dissuade him, but to no avail. He contacted one of Sivaprakash’s friends for help, but that didn’t work either.
After drinking a large amount of alcohol, Sivaprakash drove to NPP with his friend and brother following closely behind.
He arrived at the NPP at around 11pm and used an axe to smash its glass panels. His brother asked him to stop, but his pleas were ignored.
Then, he removed the items from the lorry, placed them near the NPP, and started a fire that grew to be about 2.5m wide.
He then spray-painted “ISIS” on the pillars.
The authorities were notified and the blaze was soon extinguished. Officers found Sivaprakash in military trousers and boots, but without a shirt.
He also had green and black camouflage cream on his face.

Sentenced to 3 Years in Jail

Yesterday (30 June), the 31-year-old was sentenced to 3.5 years’ jail and nine strokes of the cane.

Earlier, he had pled guilty to one count each of vandalism, causing mischief by fire, and being in possession of a weapon.

Fortunately, no one was hurt in his fiery protest.

His acts did cause around S$20,000 in damage to the area and a nearby car, however.

When Sivaprakash devised the scheme, he planned to allow himself to get arrested so he could speak publicly about his perceived injustices in court.

However, he was silent during the court proceedings yesterday.

As for why he spray-painted ISIS on the pillars, it wasn’t because he was a supporter of the terrorist group.

“The accused spray painted ‘ISIS’ on the pillars of the HDB void deck knowing that this would create terror and alarm to those who witnessed this,” the prosecutor said.

He wanted to show the government that there may be a backlash from those the accused perceived to be poor and oppressed, the prosecutor added.

The prosecutor stated in court that Sivaprakash has a delusional disorder and cannot accept the fact that his abnormal behaviour emanates from a psychiatric disorder.

Featured Image: Youtube (The Straits Times)

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Shawn Ambrose
Email: [email protected]