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Self-immolation bid at anti-quota rally
Published on Sat, May 27, 2006 at 20:27, Updated on Sun, May 28, 2006 at 09:41 in 
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New Delhi: A gutka vendor created a stir at an anti-reservation rally in Delhi on Saturday by attempting self-immolation.
Rishi Gupta, a resident of Shahadra in East Delhi, suffered 40 per cent burns before police doused the fire. Gupta, 23, has been admitted at the LNJP Hospital.
Gupta is not connected with the doctors' agitation against reservations and it is not clear why he attempted self-immolation, said DCP Central Neeraj Thakur. Gupta has studied till Class XII in Bihar's Khagaria district and came to Delhi four years ago.
When asked which college he belonged to, Gupta said: "I am not a student. I am working."
Preliminary investigations indicate that he used kerosene to immolate himself. The incident took place less than 100 m away from the podium at the Ramleela Grounds where speakers were addressing the rally.
Gupta is out of danger, said Neha Gandhi, a resident doctor at LNJP and a spokesperson for the group which organised the rally.
"We do not know who he is and why he did this," said Sasmit Sarangi, a representative of the striking medicos. Police have filed an FIR against Gupta.
A self immolation attempt was reported from Cuttack, Orissa, but police are still investigating whether it was related to the reservation controversy.
Surendra Mohanty, a PG student of SCB Medical College, took everybody by surprise when he tried to set himself ablaze near a police post inside the hospital.
He was immediately overpowered by onlookers and agitating students, who were about to take out a candlelight procession.
Mohanty did not suffer burns. City DSP Kumarmani Meher said an investigation was in progress to ascertain the motive behind his attempt.
It was yet to be confirmed whether the self-immolation attempt was linked to the anti-reservation agitation, Meher said.
(With agency inputs)
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