Youth who set himself afire in Kolkata dies

Kolkata, March 11 (IANS) A youth, who had set himself on fire outside Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s residence here after failing to get a railway job allegedly promised by some party leaders, died at a city nursing home Thursday night.

Prasun Dutta, a resident of Bansberia in Hooghly district, had come near the railway minister’s residence on Harish Chatterjee Street in Kalighat Sunday (March 6) and set himself on fire. He was admitted to hospital with 90 percent burns.

‘He had third degree burns and his condition was very serious. Grafting was done twice but he died due to cardiac arrest today (Thursday night)’, Bellevue Hospital chief administrative officer Pradip Tondon told IANS.

Dutta died at 10.20 pm Thursday.

Trinamool Congress has denied any role in the incident.

Family members of the youth claimed that he was assured a railway job by some Trinamool Congress leaders, but they did not keep their promise.

According to witnesses, Dutta came to Banerjee’s house claiming to be a Trinamool Congress supporter and sought an appointment with her.

All off a sudden, he poured petrol on his body and set himself on fire. Immediately thereafter, he jumped in the Tollygunge canal.

The victim’s elder brother Proloy Dutta said: ‘Prasun was promised employment by some Trinamool Congress leaders of Hooghly. After he realised that they had made false promises, he came to meet Banerjee to plead for a job.’

Trinamool Congress heavyweight and opposition leader in West Bengal assembly Partha Chatterjee has denied involvement of any party leader in the incident and termed the victim as ‘mentally depressed’.