Man attempts immolation outside Raj Bhawan

Lucknow, Feb 28: A 70-year-old man today attempted self immolation outside Raj Bhawan even as Chief Election Commissioner was holding a meeting with political parties on the high security premises.

However, timely intervention by journalists standing outside to cover the event saved his life. He was detained by police and rushed to the nearest police station for questioning.

The person had reached the area drenched in kerosene. The inflammable's smell alerted reporters standing nearby.

The man, Jayantri Tiwari from Dhani Bazaar, Maharajganj district claimed 1,100 families had been recently displaced due to construction of a check dam.

''The government had released money for compensation, but it was never distributed to the affected families,'' he alleged.

Several men and women had accompanied him to Raj Bhawan.

UNI