Self-immolation bid by Muzaffarpur poll aspirants foiled

MUZAFFARPUR: Two poll aspirants tried to immolate themselves in front of the office of the returning officer here after their nomination papers for Muzaffarpur Lok Sabha seat were rejected on Saturday.

Alert police personnel, however, foiled the suicide attempts of the duo and arrested them. The two – Bilemsh Prasad of little-known Garib Janshakti Party and Arvind Kumar, an independent – were later produced in the court of chief judicial magistrate from where they were sent to jail.

While Arvind, a resident of Buddhnagar under the Musahari police station area in the district, poured kerosene on him, Bimlesh, who hails from Mithanpura locality of the town, doused himself with petrol before the police swung into action and arrested them.

Muzaffarpur SSP Manoj Kumar said the two were upset after rejection of their nomination papers due to lack of relevant documents.

Returning officer for Muzaffarpur constituency Rajesh Kumar said Bimlesh’s papers were rejected as he failed to reply to certain queries raised by his office. Arvind, on the other hand, had not signed some documents, including affidavit papers, correctly, Kumar said.

Muzaffarpur will go to the polls in the fifth phase on May 6. Saturday was the last day for scrutiny of nomination papers in the constituency. Altogether 52 candidates had filed their nomination papers for the seat. Of them, the nomination papers of 15 candidates were rejected, leaving 37 in the fray.