In a bizarre incident a 35-year-old AAP activist, Kranti Singh made an abortive attempt to immolate himself in front of the district collectorate under Bistupur police station on Tuesday. He was protesting against increase in fees by private schools of city.
However, timely intervention of policemen prevented Kranti Singh, a Golmuri-based share trader, who had already put kerosine oil for setting himself ablaze. Dhalbhum SDO Prem Ranjan said that they had prior information about the self-immolation attempt by the AAP activist.
"We condemn the act and timely intervention helped us save him. He had given us information four days back about his plans for setting himself ablaze to protest against hike of fees by schools. A magistrate had been deputed at the spot along with Bistupur police personnel who prevented him from self immolating himself. The magistrate will be lodging an FIR against the AAP activist who is currently lodged in Bistupur police station," said SDO Dhalbhum.
Bistupur police station officer Jitendra Kumar said that FIR would be lodged against the AAP activist later in the day. "We will lodge an FIR soon and the activist would be forward to Ghaghidih jail this evening. The process of lodging FIR is on," said Jitender Kumar. Kranti Singh said that the step was taken in protest against the district administration.
"I along with several AAP activists had staged an agitation in front of the district collectorate around five months back and warned that if no step is taken by the district administration then I would be forced to self immolate. However, no step was taken. Even the district superintendent of education Indu Bhusan has failed to take any action against private schools for enhancing amount of fees taken on account of building fees and re-admission," said Kranti Singh.
Meanwhile, AAP convener of Kolhan region, Kumar Chandra Mardi, however, said Singh has been expelled from the organisation sometime back for anti-party activities. Mardi said he has no information about Singh's self-immolation bid.
City-based several English medium schools have enhanced fees by nearly 25-30 percent from the 2014-15 sessions to the current 2015-16 session at both primary and middle school level. The parents have alleged that most of the English medium minority schools namely, loyola English School, Sacred Heart Convent (Bistupur), Carmel Junior College (in Sonari), St Mary's English High School (Bistupur) and little Flower have increased the fee structure.