Disabled attempts self-immolation

A differently abled man attempted self-immolation during a demonstration outside Prime Minister’s house at 7 Race Course Road on Saturday. He was a part of a group that was demanding resignation of Union law minister Salman Khurshid over financial impropriety in running a trust for the disabled.

The man identified as Badal, who hails from Orissa and lives with his family at Dr Rajendra Prasad Road. According to a police official, he had poured petrol over his body at around 2 pm. “He was carrying a match box. But our personnel overpowered him and stopped him,” added the official.

Badal had come to the area with activists of Rashtriya Viklang Party. “They had gathered outside the PM’s house and were raising slogans against Salman Khurshid,” the official said.
Witnesses said they were about to burn an effigy with petrol when Badal attempted self-immolation.

Police detained many protesters and took them to Tughlaq Road and Chanakyapuri police stations. “They were later released and no case was filed. But, action may be taken against the protesters,” the official said.

It is alleged that an NGO, Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust, run by Khurshid’s wife Louise siphoned off funds meant for differently abled persons. Members of the trust allegedly forged signatures of Uttar Pradesh government officials to receive grants from the Union social justice and empowerment ministry.

Arvind Kejriwal-led India Against Corruption and Rashtriya Viklang Party have been protesting against Khurshid.