Guwahti, Feb 24: In a very unprecedented incident today a member of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity, set himself on fire as a part of protest against Assam government,s attitude towards the landless people, thus demanding for land rights for land less people.Pranab Boro, a middle aged person of the KMSS, today self immolated in front of the Dispur secretariat at around 9.50 am.
Though the KMSS have been throwing warning to agitate on Monday and Tuesday amidst Rahul Gandhi,s visit, however there was no permission granted by the Administration as a result the security forces had tried to keep protesters at bay since the wee hours. Many protesters were blocked in various entry point to the city as a part of precaution. ” There was no permission and only through media we had come to know about the protest by the KMSS, and the incident of self immolation by a member of the KMSS is very unfortunate” said A P Tiwari, SSP, Guwahati.
It was a normal morning on the streets of Guwahati,except that forces were deployed in various pockets and there was no sign of protest,agitation and tension in the air, but media peoples were plying here and there anticipating that protesters would make their was to Dispur since morning and some media people flocked in front of the secretariat.
There was no agitators gathering and security forces were parading on the streets.Public transports, private vehicles and commuters were on their own pace as usual.All of a sudden a man self immolated himself came running towards the secretariat gate and took all by surprise and both media and police men came into activity.
Blankets were wrapped and water poured by the police people on duty as the man fell down after running some meters away from the Dispur Police station point on the GS Road.” I was strolling and all of a sudden i saw a man shouting from behind a vehicle parked on roadside near the railings adjoined to Police station side and then running in flames” Said Sanjay Bora, a National media Camera person.”I guess he had set himself on fire behind the parked Bus and a truck and then came out shouting”, He added.
Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, condemned the self immolation incident, and said if
possible legal action would be taken. “What mistake we have done that such things should be done,we will give land rights to the people and the process have started, but we cannot allot land in forest lands and wetlands, even the central government won,t agree to it” Said the Chief Minister, after he had come out attending a government function of distributing Land “Pattas” in Kalakshetrs Auditorium.
This incident of self immolation by Pranab Boro, is first of its kind in the state and it has left people shocked.He is now receiving treatment in the Guwahati Medical College, and the condition is said to be critical.(SP News)
