Man tries to self-immolate in front of Mamata Banerjee's house

A youth on Sunday set himself on fire in front of Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence in Kolkata allegedly after he failed to get a job in the railways.

Prasun Dutta, a resident of Bansberia in Hooghly district, visited Banerjee's Harish Chatterjee street residence in the morning along with a group of youths seeking a job in the railways.

After sometime, Dutta suddenly set himself on fire taking his companions, who were standing nearby, by surprise. They took him immediately to MR Bangur Hospital with 90% burns, police said.

Hospital sources, however, said that he was released from the hospital on a personal bond.

Asked about Dutta's release from the hospital, the police said, "His relatives might have taken him to a private nursing home for better treatment. We don't have any information about him after his release."

According to Dutta's family sources, he was promised employment in the Railways by some local Trinammol Congress leaders, but after they failed to make good on their promise, the youth went to Banerjee's house to plead for a job.

The joint commissioner of police (headquarters), Jawed Shamim, said the self-immolation bid was being looked into.