SIDDIPET: The issue of the ration dealers’ strike took a macabre turn when Gajwel mandal Ration Dealers Association president Wajid attempted suicide at the assembly constituency headquarters on Friday.
During a protest held by ration dealers, he poured kerosene on himself and set himself ablaze. Immediately, other protestors present around him extinguished the fire and shifted him to Gajwel government hospital. He was later shifted to Hyderabad for better treatment. Sources say that Wajid’s condition is currently stable and that he had only suffered minor injuries.
It may be recalled that ration dealers had recently announced that they were going on strike demanding fulfilment of various demands such as hike in their salaries and disbursement of prior dues by the state government. However, the government took the matter seriously as announced that dealerships of around 17,000 protesting dealers would be cancelled. As a temporary alternative, women from self-help groups were roped in to take over fair price shops.
Wajid had come from Mutrajpally to attend the protest. It is reported that he was anguished by the government’s decision to cancel their dealerships, due to which he decided to attempt suicide. Gajwel rural police registered a case and are currently investigating it.