Chennai, Sep 17 (IANS) An autorickshaw driver was admitted to a hospital in Salem Monday with severe burn injuries after he attempted self-immolation in protest against the visit to India later this month of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, police said.
Salem town, popular for its mangoes, is around 350 km from here.
According to police, Vijayaraj, 26, set himself on fire at the Salem bus stand Monday morning shouting slogans against the Lankan president.
Police have beefed up security around the hospital where Vijayaraj was admitted.
Tamil activists supporting Lankan Tamils have been protesting against Rajapaksa’s visit to Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh later this month.
The Lankan president is slated to lay the foundation stone for an international Buddhist university in Madhya Pradesh.
