A split second between life & death

It was supposed to be a routine assignment to cover BJP's protest against the arrest of its MLA, Akash Vijayvargiya, for hitting a civic body official with a bat. In a split second, it changed into a life-and-death tussle - with a tiny spark separating the two.
A man suddenly doused himself with petrol and pulled out a box of matches. Should I continue to shoot with my camera or save a life?
Just a couple of seconds before this, we were looking at the dais from where leaders were belting out abuses at police and the Congress government.Then, our attention was drawn to a man standing next to us, shouting on the top of his lungs. He carried a bottle that he swung around. I lined him up with my scope and clicked a few shots.
I was still clicking when I saw through the view finder that he was pouring something on his clothes. Then, my lens caught a matchbox in his petrol-smeared hands. In a split second, I made my decision.
I lunged at him, and grabbed his matchbox hand tightly. We struggled. He tried to break free, but I wrestled the matches out of his fist. Others jumped in and pinned down the youth. He told us he was Amit Sonkar.
As he was being led away, I realized petrol had got on my hands and clothes as well. It was a close call. A spark, and both of us would have gone up in flames. For a second or two, I contemplated. I had not completed my assignment. I didn't have pictures of the moment. But would I do it again? Yes.