Poll aspirant attempts immolation

A 40-YEAR-OLD poll aspirant set himself ablaze near Lanka police station here on Sunday night. Ghoore Lal Sonkar was frustrated, as he was not allowed to file his nomination papers as an Independent candidate for the civic election. He was admitted to the intensive care unit of Heritage Hospital with 90 per cent burns. His condition was critical, Heritage Hospital spokesman Ajay Rai said.

A 40-YEAR-OLD poll aspirant set himself ablaze near Lanka police station here on Sunday night.

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Ghoore Lal Sonkar was frustrated, as he was not allowed to file his nomination papers as an Independent candidate for the civic election. He was admitted to the intensive care unit of Heritage Hospital with 90 per cent burns. His condition was critical, Heritage Hospital spokesman Ajay Rai said.

Police lodged cases against the lensmen of an electronic channel for instigating Sonkar, who doused himself with kerosene and set himself fire in the busy Lanka area where a large number of people witnessed the incident.

Later, locals and police personnel extinguished the fire.

Lanka police station incharge Manoj Pant said the matter was under investigation.

Pant said lensmen told Sonkar that he would earn name and fame by setting himself ablaze.

“The journalists assured him hat they would save him,” Pant said, adding that the fire went out of control when the incident was being shot.

Sonkar had tried to file his nomination papers for the post of corporator in Varanasi Nagar Nigam from Nagwa ward. He approached the zonal office of the Nagar Nigam on the last day on Friday.