Man attempts self- immolation near DM office in Kanpur

An RTI activist attempted self immolation near the DM’s office on Saturday evening. The policemen standing nearby doused the flames and rushed him to the hospital. Doctors said he suffered 20 percent burns. According to reports, RTI activist Rahul Awasthi of Trilokpur village was fighting against the alleged malpractices of the village pradhan and block pramukh in implementation of government schemes.

The authorities, however, said they were looking into Awasthi’s complaints.

Rahul said his family was into agriculture and the village headman Ashok Sachan, his wife Rani Sachan and the block pramukh were involved in malpractices. He alleged that they were embezzling funds and were not passing the benefits of government schemes to the people.

“I had no option but to take my own life. I was fed up of being unheard and seeing them moving free,” he said.