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Dalit sets himself on fire in Madhya Pradesh |
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Written by Correspondent
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Monday, 07 January 2008 |
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 Bhopal: A middle-aged Dalit man allegedly set himself on fire inside the collectorate premises in Sagar, about 200 km from Bhopal, on 7 January 2008, while local Member of Parliament Virendra Kumar Khatik and his supporters allegedly looked on.
The incident occurred at 1 pm when Khatik, BJP MP from Sagar, was holding a meeting of his supporters, and Shiv Prasad Chaudhary set himself on fire while demanding land for a school in his village. Bhagwangara. Chaudhry had been demanding land since November last year. The administration did not heed his plea though he had threatened suicide if his demand was not met.
On 7 January 2008, Chaudhary entered the premises with a bottle of kerosene and a burning torch and asked Khatik for the land. Snubbed by Khatik, Chaudhary set himself on fire and suffered 50 per cent burns. Doctors said Chaudhary was out of danger, but his condition worsened on 8 January 2008 and was shifted to a Bhopal hospital.
Cabinet minister in-charge of Sagar, Kailash Vijayvargiya, said the BJP supporters tried to stop Chaudhary but he was drunk and violent. ''Chaudhry even threatened to set people present on the premises on fire,'' he said. Vijayvargiya, however, admitted lapse on the part of the local administration.
(Source: The Times of India dated 09 January 2008) |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 12 January 2008 )
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