Ongoing protest against the incineration of Union Carbide waste in the industrial town Pithampur escalated on Friday and became more intense as two protesters attempted to immolate themselves. That has led to participation of more people in this demonstration during a ‘bandh’ called against disposal of Union Carbide waste in Pithampur in Dhar district on Friday. Both the protesters suffered severe burn injuries. Rajkumar Raghuvanshi and Raj Patel, were rushed to Choithram Hospital, where they are stated to be in critical condition. A horrifying video related to this incident has also surfaced on social media.

 

These two men poured petrol and set themselves on fire, resulting in a stampede-like situation. Heavy police force deployed at the spot tried to stop them but within a few seconds, fire engulfed them. Efforts were taken to douse the flames but the two men suffered 60 per cent burn injuries. Eyewitnesses say everyone was participating in the protest when suddenly two men poured inflammatory liquid on themselves and tried to self-immolate. Both suffered burn injuries on their faces. Some of the people tried to pull off Raj Patel’s charred clothes and they too got hurt. Nearly 337 tonnes of waste from Union Carbide factory in Bhopal was brought to the disposal facility in Pithampur, 40 years after the Bhopal gas tragedy, but local residents are opposing this. On Thursday, a rally followed by a sit-in demonstration was organised at the Maharana Pratap Square in Pithampur. Residents had called for a ‘bandh’ on Friday. Thus, a large number of people reached the Maharana Pratap Square to participate in the ‘bandh’ and raised slogans against Union Carbide.

 

Police use force: As tension escalated following the incident, additional police force was sent from Indore to bring the situation under control, police said. Police resorted to lathicharge against people protesting against dumping of toxic waste from Bhopal situated Union Carbide factory. Protesters said that administration has misled authorities and higher ups that situation is not so worse. Senior BJP leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said that the disposal of 337 tonnes of toxic waste linked to the Bhopal gas tragedy must be undertaken after detailed discussions with scientists and experts as it has a bearing on the well-being of citizens. Disposal won’t be in a single shot: Official statement says that the disposal process could take 3-9 months. The waste would be incinerated within three months. This period may be extended to nine months.