Srinagar- A 27-year-old youth set himself on fire as soon as a demolition squad comprising police and men from Irrigation and flood control department were about to pull down his newly constructed business complex in Harran Kangan area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Saturday.
A video of the incident, doing rounds on social media groups, shows graphic images of a man in flames running on the under construction building.
Some youth rush to save the 27-year-old identified as Aamir Hamid Shah, the video clip shows. Reports said that the youth was later shifted to hospital for treatment. The demolition squad later left the area, these reports said.
Police in a statement later said that during the demolition drive undertaken by Irrigation and Flood Control Department over the banks of Nalla Sindh, Amir Hamid Shah son of Nazir Ahmad Shah suddenly appeared from behind the illegal structure and self immolated on its roof in protest against demolition of illegal structure raised on the banks of the water body.
“The person was however, rescued by SHO Ganderbal and locals on spot. He received burn injuries before flames were doused off and was shifted to hospital,” the police said, adding, “A deep trench was dug by the owners of the structure to prevent any ingress into the premises which prevented a prompt rescue,” the police said further.
The police said that all help and support in the hospitalisation has been rendered and assured family members best medical treatment. “One police team is already there in hospital and facilitating his treatment,” the statement reads, adding, “Moreover Police requests to media fraternity and general public not to circulate the video of the unfortunate incident which is too graphic for the common people.”
Reacting to the self immolation bid by the youth in Ganderbal district CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami Tuesday asked the administration where it was when the building was constructed?
In a statement, Tarigami said that reports suggest that the land where the building has been constructed is under the cultivation of family for decades and youth who are educated, unemployed were planning to start their own business.
“When they constructed the building nobody objected. And now that they have completed the construction, a crew comprising police and officials from the Irrigation and Flood Control department arrived to tear down his newly-constructed building.”
The images and video of the demolition drive have triggered anxiety among the people over the government’s new land policies, he said and demanded enquiry into this unfortunate incident.
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