Man tries to immolate self at BJP protest venue
text_fields
Thiruvananthapuram: A man barged into the makeshift protest venue where BJP leader CK Padmanabhan has been on an indefinite strike and tried to set himself ablaze in front of the state secretariat in the wee hours of Thursday.
Venugopalan Nair, who hails from Muttada near here, has been admitted to the Medical College Hospital with severe burn injuries.
The incident took place around 2 am when Venugopal set himself on fire and ran into the tent chanting prayers.
Police personnel and BJP workders took him to the hospital.
BJP leaders had been protesting in front of the Secretariat demanding the withdrawal of the state government's alleged 'anti-devotee' approach in sabarimala.
Various restrictions imposed by the police are in place in Sabarimala following protests from Hindu outfits against the state government's move to implement the September 28 Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa temple.
