Bahraich (UP), Apr 25 (PTI) BJP MLA from Bahraich Anupama Jaiswal sustained minor burn injuries on Saturday while burning an effigy of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav during a protest here on the women’s reservation issue.
She was immediately admitted to a hospital and, following primary treatment, left for Lucknow for further medical consultation. “The MLA was found to have sustained superficial burns covering approximately four per cent of her forehead, and some hair on her head had also been singed. However, her eyes remain unharmed, and her condition continues to be stable,” Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) of the district hospital M M Tripathi said.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred when a protest against the opposition organised by the BJP under the banner of the ‘Mahila Janaakrosh March’ was being held on Saturday afternoon near the district magistrate’s residence and effigies of SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were being set ablaze.
Circle Officer (City) Narayan Dutt Mishra said that the moment the MLA set fire to the effigy, a sudden sound resembling a small firecracker explosion was heard and the flames leapt directly toward her face.
It appeared as though a vacuum had formed inside the effigy due to trapped air. The pressure generated by this trapped air propelled the flames toward the MLA’s face, he said.
Eyewitnesses said that party workers present at the scene immediately extinguished the fire and took her to the district hospital in a police vehicle.
Posting a video of the incident, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “Those who set the fire should be cautious. Arrangements should be made for the treatment of the woman.” BJP district vice president Rahul Rai suggested that an excessive amount of petrol or spirit on the effigy could have led to the incident.
The CMS said that the MLA wished to travel to Lucknow to seek better medical consultation and the opinion of a plastic surgeon, and left the district hospital for Lucknow. PTI COR NAV RT RT
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