Indore (Madhya Pradesh): A Communist Party of India (Marxist) worker in his 60's on Friday allegedly attempted self -immolation while distributing pamphlets opposing the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) at Geeta Bhawan Square in Madhya Pradesh's Indore.
The elderly party worker, identified as Ramesh Prajapati, was rushed to the Maharaja Yashwant Rao hospital in the city where he is undergoing treatment, said Nirmal Shrivas, in-charge of Tukoganj police station, who is probing the incident.
Shrivas, however, asserted that it was premature to establish a link between the incident and the man’s involvement in anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) protests.
Prajapati has suffered serious burn injuries and is yet to record his statement with the police.
Meanwhile, other party members have also maintained that the truth behind the incident will only be revealed once Prajapati recovers and gives his statement.
"I got a call from an unknown person who told me that Ramesh had set himself on fire. When I reached Geeta Bhawan square I saw that Ramesh was being taken to the hospital in an ambulance, " said Chote Lal, District Secretary, CPI (M).
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On whether Prajapati attempted self-immolation as a mark of protest against the laws, Chote Lal said, "I can't say for sure that he set himself on fire while protesting against CAA and NRC. He was carrying pamphlets describing the ill-effects of CAA and NRC, but we don't know if he had distributed them and then set himself on fire."
Members of the party have pointed out that Prajapati had actively participated in various anti-CAA, NRC protests across the city.
