Cong workers protest after leader dies in self-immolation

A Youth Congress leader, who had immolated himself in front of the office of sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) inChhattisgarh'sBilaspur district alleging harassment, died last evening, triggering a massive protest by party workers here today.
"Rajendra Tiwari (24), a Youth Congress leader from Bilha region, had sustained serious burns in the incident which took place on Monday and died last evening during treatment at a private hospitalin Raipur," a police official said.
A case for violation of prohibitory orders under CrPC was pending against Tiwari. He had gone to Bilha SDM Arjun Singh Sisodia's office on Monday for bail, but his application was rejected, the official said.

Tiwari then came out and set himself on fire, accusing the officer of demanding bribe through a clerk for granting the bail.
Congress workers led by Bilha MLA Siyaram Kaushik and MLA Amit Jogi today blocked the Bilaspur-Raipur national highway (NH-130) near Bilha, keeping Tiwari's body on the road and demanding that the SDM be sacked.
Bilaspur collector P Anbalgan and the superintendent of police Abhishek Pathak pacified the protesters and assured that the SDM would be suspended.

The collector also promised a compensation of Rs two lakh to the kin of the victim. The treatment cost too would be borne by the administration, he said.

After this the protesters relented and the body was taken for final rites.
"Sisodia was transferred to the Collectorate following the incident yesterday and now we have proposed to the state government to suspend him and register an FIR," said the collector P Anbalgan.
A magisterial probe has already been ordered into the incident.
Additional collector, Bilaspur, Nirmal Tigga, had been asked to probe the matter and submit a report in 15 days, he said.