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Rehri owner sets himself on fire in Patiala
Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 24
Mr Gopal Krishan Kashyap, president, Rajiv Gandhi Prontha Rehri Market, Patiala, and a senior Congress worker, is struggling for life at the local Rajindra Hospital after he set himself on fire near the bus stand today in the presence of a heavy police force to lodge his protest against the denial of allotment of iron sheds to uprooted rehri pullers by the Municipal Corporation (MC) authorities.

Interestingly, Mr Kashyap, who has suffered about 80 per cent burn injuries, set himself ablaze in front of policemen after addressing a section of rehri pullers who had applied for allotment of iron sheds to the MC authorities. Mr Kashyap has also made the MC authorities, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi aware of his plans by sending them emergency faxes on January 18, 2006.

In the messages sent to various authorities, including Ms Gandhi, he urged her to direct Capt Amarinder Singh to build sheds for rehriwalas and to take action against Mr Vishnu Sharma, Mayor, MC, Patiala, failing which he would commit suicide.

Mr Kashyap, who has been fighting for allotment of iron sheds for the rehriwalas who were uprooted from their business places by the MC authorities on the eve of the Indo-Pak Games in this city, last year, first poured kerosene on his body and then set himself on fire.

Though Sub-Inspector of the Punjab Police, Jaswant Singh, who was present on the scene, immediately tried to put off the fire by putting blankets on Mr Kashyap, he was in flames within no time and suffered about 80 per cent burn injuries. His condition was stated to be serious. Mr Jaswant Singh also suffered minor burn injuries on his hands.

Mr Kashyap in the fax message sent to various Congress functionaries, including Dr Manmohan Singh, Ms Sonia Gandhi, Commissioner and Mayor, MC, Patiala, alleged that rehriwalas were being harassed by the Mayor, Mr Vishnu Sharma. He added that though the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Tejbir Singh, and Commissioner, MC, Mr S. K. Alhuwalia, had built sheds, Mr Vishnu Sharma had been hindering allotment of the same to rehriwalas. He alleged that Mr Sharma had been demanding money from them despite the fact that they were unemployed for the past 14 months.

Mr Kashyap also alleged that Mr Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, Advisor to the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, had also been tarnishing the image of the party with his misconduct.

Information gathered by TNS revealed that Mr Kashyap’s statement has been recorded by the police. His son and other relatives were taking care of him in hospital.

Police sources said a case under Section 309, IPC, had been registered against Mr Kashyap for attempting to commit suicide. A section of senior police officials also visited the hospital.

Mr S. K. Ahluwalia, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, when contacted, said as the applicants were in excess of the number of sheds to be allotted, he referred the matter to the Municipal Corporation house to frame a policy in the next meeting.

Mr Sharma could not be contacted as he was away to Hyderabad to attend the Congress session. The Deputy Commissioner has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident of the rehri owner setting himself afire.

Also the SSP has ordered a probe into the role of the policemen who were witness to the incident.

Sub Inspector Jaswant Singh has been placed under suspension, said SSP A.S. Rai.

CHANDIGARH: Commenting on rehri owner setting himself afire in Patiala today, General Secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Kanwaljit Singh, said that this happening reflected of the manner in which Punjab was being governed.

A citizen took the extreme step as the Congress Government failed to provide him justice even after his repeated knocking on the door of the authorities concerned he added.

The Akali leader said that this incident was proof of the dissatisfaction of people with the Congress Government in the state. The Akali leader said that entire country had been shaken by what happened in Patiala today.

Mr Amarjit Singh Walia, an other Akali leader, said that all those against who allegations had been levelled by the person, who set himself afire at Patiala, should be arrested.