Alleging Caste Discrimination, TDP Sarpanch Tries To Immolate Self

Anantapur: Alleging caste discrimination by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders, a Dalit sarpanch, who too belongs to the TDP, attempted suicide on Monday as he felt that party leaders and Janmabhoomi Committee members have insulted him by not informing him about Government's programmes in his village.

Saake Narasimhulu, who belongs to SC community, was elected as sarpanch of Nootimadugu village in Kambaduru mandal of Anantapur district.

On Monday, 'Janmabhoomi-Maa ooru', a government welfare programme, was being organised in the village and Narasimhulu was to preside over the programme. He went on to the stage, greeted people and came down immediately.

Later, he came with a bottle of petrol and doused himself in front of the officers and Janmabhoomi Commitee members. Villagers restrained Narasimhulu, but officers and TDP leaders continued the programme ignoring his suicide attempt.