Youth attempts self-immolation, 7 injured

Jammu, Feb 7 (UNI) A daily wage worker of the state Excise Department today attempted to commit suicide during an agitation here.

Seven people were injured in the incident, police said.

More than a hundred daily wage workers of state Excise Department had gathered at Indira Chowk to demand regularisation of their job, when one Suresh Kumar attempted suicide.

At least seven people were injured in the melee between protesters and police in the incident, official sources said.

''It was a pre-planned attempt by the agitators to press the government for their demands. They had brought an inflammable-soaked white cloth with them to commit the crime,'' general bus stand Police post incharge Rajesh Sharma told UNI.

Police did have prior knowledge regarding their plan and were already there (at Indira Chowk) but protesters took action on the way, he said.

''We rushed to the place where one protester, namely Suresh Kumar, tried to burn himself alive and successfully averted the attempt,'' Mr Sharma said.

Some other protesters and policemen also sustained burn injuries in the incident, he added.

The Police also resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the dozens of agitators from the Indira Chowk, 500 metres from civil Secretariat where the budget session of state legislature was going on.

Those who sustained injuries were immediately shifted to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu.

According to GMCH authorities, four youths were brought to the hospital with burn injuries and three with cane-charge injuries.

''All of them are out of danger,'' they said.

UNI