An activist of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti succumbed to burns here on Monday after allegedly setting himself on fire in front of the State Secretariat during an agitation against “selective” distribution of patta (land certificate).
The KMSS activist was identified as Pranab Boro (45), a carpenter from the city’s Garchuk area.
He ran toward the Secretariat engulfed in flames, leaving everyone in shock.
Police and Central Reserve Police Force men managed to douse the flames when he fell down after some distance. He had suffered nearly 100 per cent burns and was declared dead by doctors at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital.
The KMSS, a peasants’ rights body, had vowed to disrupt the function to distribute patta to a “select few” — about 500 of 75,000 applicants.
It demanded issuing of patta to all applicants and settlers. Speaking at the function to mark the beginning of distribution of patta to city dwellers occupying government land for over 10 years, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi described the self-immolation as “unfortunate.”
He said the protest was not justified as it was the KMSS which had been demanding expediting the issuing patta to landless people.
