A 57-year-old carpenter Rajarapu Janardhan attempted suicide by immolating himself for the cause of separate Telangana state at Raikal mandal headquarters on Wednesday. He sustained severe burns and his condition is said to be critical.
An active participant in the Telangana movement during Sakalajanula Samme and later, Janardhan has been participating in the agitation being organised by TJAC near Sivaji Statue circle in Raikal. He was reportedly upset with the police lathicharge against pro-Telangana activists during the recent visit of YSR Congress honourary president YS Vijayalakshmi to Sircilla.
Janardhan set himself ablaze at his workshop on Wednesday and ran towards Sivaji statue circle while raising ‘Jai Telangana’ slogans. The locals immediately doused the flames and shifted him to Jagitial area hospital where doctors said his condition is critical having suffered 60 per cent burns. Meanwhile, the TRS and BJP leaders who visited Janardhan gave a bandh call in Raikal on Thursday.