Congress worker badly burnt while setting effigy ablaze in protest

A 34-year-old Congress worker suffered severe burn injuries while she was setting afire an effigy of the Central government during a protest against price rise in Ghaziabad on Wednesday afternoon. The demonstration was being held at near the Old bus stand.

A 34-year-old Congress worker suffered severe burn injuries while she was setting afire an effigy of the Central government during a protest against price rise in Ghaziabad on Wednesday afternoon. The demonstration was being held at near the Old bus stand.

The woman was pouring kerosene on the effigy when she caught fire. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

The incident took place as Meena Verma, a resident of Arthala, was pouring kerosene to keep the effigy blazing, a mark of protest by Congress workers against price rise.

“While we were holding the effigy, the wind started blowing in the direction opposite to the way I was facing. When I set it afire and poured kerosene, the effigy lit up and my clothes and hands caught fire. I tried to douse it but it kept raging till other workers put it out,” Verma said.

“I suffered severe burn injuries on my left arm and I was rushed to a hospital for medical aid. However, after getting first aid, I joined the party workers in the protest and marched up to the district headquarters, where we handed over a memorandum to the district officials,” she said.

The senior members of the party were all praise for the woman, who continued the protest despite the burn injuries.

“Her clothes on the upper part of the body were in flames and other workers rushed to help her. She was administered medical aid at a nearby hospital but she voluntarily said that she would not get admitted,” said Om Prakash Sharma, former district president from Congress committee at Ghaziabad.

“In our memorandum, we have raised the issue of price rise, which has taken place during the present Central government regime,” he said.

“We are gearing up for assembly elections next year. There has been a tremendous hike in price of diesel, petrol, pulses and even LPG cylinders. We were protesting as the government is planning major projects like bullet trains, smart cities among others while the common man is suffering,” Sharma said.