An investigation has been launched after a man called a police inspector and threatened to self-immolate if the ongoing Twenty20 International series between India and England at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium was not cancelled over the rising COVID-19 cases in the city. 

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An FIR was filed after the caller, identified as Pankaj Patel from Gujarat’s Gandhinagar, called senior inspector KV Patel of Chandkheda Police Station on March 12 and threatened to self-immolation if the remainder of the series was not cancelled, according to a report in the Indian Express. 

KV Patel is part of the security arrangement for the ongoing series at Ahmedabad’s Motera. The police have filed launched an investigation into the matter. 

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Earlier, audio clips of the purported conversation surfaced on social media, wherein the caller was asking the inspector if coronavirus-related health-safety protocols were being followed at the stadium. 

He then demanded that the series be cancelled after the police officer says that social-distancing was not being followed, adding that the average attendance of around 70,000 spectators at the stadium put everyone at risk. 

The caller also allegedly used abusive words for Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and his deputy for failing to curb the rising spread of the infection. 

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Meanwhile, the BJP-led state government has increased the night curfew timing in four major cities by two hours. The curfew in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot will now remain in force from 10 pm to 6 am. 

The decision was taken on Tuesday in the core committee meeting of the coronavirus task-force headed by the chief minister. This came a day after the Gujarat Cricket Association said that the remainder of the series will be played without spectators. 

Gujarat reported 890 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, taking the total tally in the state to 279,097.