Man who set himself afire in Aug over AP special status dies

A 50-year-old man who set himself ablaze in August to protest denial of special category status to Andhra Pradesh today died in a hospital at Eluru in adjoining West Godavari district, police said.
S Durga Prasad succumbed to burns at the Government General Hospital in Eluru, over two months after immolating himself.
"Prasad, a small-time businessman, set himself ablaze after pouring petrol on August 26. He received severe burn injuries and was rushed to the Government General Hospital in Eluru, where he died today," Eluru DSP Sarita said.
He was allegedly unhappy over Andhra Pradesh, which was bifurcated last year, not receiving special status, a tag which would have led the residuary State to get a slew of financial incentives and grants from the Centre.

The first case of suicide attempt over the special category issue was reported from Tirupati in early August. A Congress worker attempted suicide by torching himself in a public meeting in the temple town.
Since then a few more such cases have been reported from different parts of the State.