PUDUCHERRY: An activist of the Periyar Chinthanaiyalar Iyakkam suffered burns while lighting an effigy of the Chief Minister and a Cabinet colleague during a demonstration near Ambur Salai here on Tuesday.
One of the cadre Venkatesh, who was marching towards the Assembly for staging a picketing there to seek the withdrawal of the CBSE curriculum in schools was stopped near the Ambur Salai.
Later, Venkatesh, a resident of Vazhakulam, emerged from the adjacent Capitane Marius Xavier Street holding the effigy on which the Chief Minister N Rangasamy’s picture was pasted.
He sprinkled some petrol on the effigy and while doing so, spilt the fuel on his legs. When he lit the effigy, his clothes caught fire and he suffered injuries on his hands and legs. The victim’s mother, who was present at the spot, screamed and the other activists rushed to the rescue.
The police personnel, led by Grand Bazaar circle inspector Chintha Kothandaraman and sub- inspector P K Sajith, managed to get water from a nearby shop and tried to douse the flames.
But by then, the damage has been done as the activist’s hands, hip and legs were scalded. Venkatesh was rushed to the nearby GH. Police have registered a case in this regard.
Despite the incident, the activists continued with the agitation. Thirty-nine activists of the Periyar Chinthanayalar Iyyakkam and Periyar Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam were held for burning the effigies of the CM N Rangasamy and Education Minister T Thiyagarajan during the protest.