Dalit youth immolates himself near Ghaziabad

A dalit youth committed suicide by setting himself on fire after a land dispute halted the construction of a temple in Shahpur Fagota village, police said today.

Chetan took the extreme step following village Pradhan Narender Singh Sisodia's alleged intervention in building the temple after which he poured kerosene on himself on Saturday, they said.

The 22-year-old youth died yesterday and his body was cremated amid tight security after tension mounted in the village over his death, they said.

Additional district magistrate (executive) Ram Krishan Sharma and SP (Rural) AK Mishra controlled the tense situation only after the police registered a criminal case against Sisodia for instigating the youth to commit suicide.

The victim's brother had lodged a complaint against the village Pradhan, after which he allegedly escaped to avoid arrest, they said.