A member of a farmers' body set himself ablaze today to demand land deeds for people living on the hills here, in the first such incident in Assam, triggering protests and road and rail blockades in other parts.
The 45-year-old Pranab Boro doused himself in petrol and set himself on fire before the state secretariat during an agitation organised by Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS).
Boro was admitted to the Gauhati Medical College Hospital with 100 per cent burn injuries, hospital superintendent Dr Ramen Talukdar said.
As soon as news of Boro's bid spread, protests erupted at various places across the state.
Contacted, Additional Director General of Police (law and Order) A P Rout told PTI "Road blockades are going on at some places in Golaghat and Sivasagar and rail blockade in Jorhat. We are taking action and clearing the blockades now."
The National Highway-37 was blocked at numerous places, including at Koliapani in Jorhat district and Gaurisagar in Sivasagar district with the police picking up 10 protesters.
The police detained another 50 KMSS activists from Jorhat, Golaghat and Guwahati.
Protests were also reported from Morigaon and Sonitpur districts where railway tracks were blocked.
Thousands of protesters gathered before DC offices in Jorhat, Tinsukia and Sivasagar districts and shouted slogans against the state government.The KMSS had earlier threatened to disrupt a state government land patta distribution programme by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, which, however, took place.
Speaking to reporters after the function, Gogoi described the immolation bid as unfortunate.
"There is no justification for it ... His demand is that the people living on forest land and water bodies be given land deeds ... How can that be doneIJ" Gogoi said.
"They are encroachers and I cannot go against the interest of environment and the people," he said.
"What wrong have I done by distributing deedsIJ KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi had only asked us to speed up the process of distributing deeds," Gogoi said.
Shocked at the immolation bid, Akhil Gogoi announced withdrawal of the agitation.
"We have withdrawn the agitation as 100-200 more people decided to immolate themselves," he said, adding that that the best treatment would be provided to Boro.
Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the expenditure for Boro's treatment would be borne by the state.
Asked if the government would take action against Akhil Gogoi, the chief minister said all steps would be taken to maintain law and order in the state.
On Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi's rally tomorrow here, Tarun Gogoi said "There will be no impact on his meeting. Why was there no protest against Modi's rallyIJ"
Yesterday, Akhil Gogoi had said that the KMSS would not allow Gandhi to hold the rally in protest the state government's refusal to give landownership till 2011 to people staying in the city's hill areas.