97-year-old freedom fighter put under house arrest

Agra, June 15: Police on Wednesday foiled the suicide attempt by a 97-year-old freedom fighter, Chimman Lal Jain, who is crusading for liquor ban in Uttar Pradesh and put him under house arrest here. “I went to the railway platform to throw myself before a running train as a protest against failure of the state government to stop liquor sale in the state but police stopped me,” Jain told IANS. “Police forced me back home where they have put me under house arrest but as soon as I get an opportunity I will try again to end my life,” he said.

For the past one year, Jain has been leading the campaign for total prohibition in the state as he believes liquor consumption is one of the chief reasons behind ruining life. The frail Gandhian earlier had tried to jump in the Yamu river but was prevented from doing so. At least on three occasions, he tried to commit suicide but timely intervention by police has foiled all his attempts. “People have a right to protest but the police can not permit anyone to end his life,” Superintendent of Police Sushil Dhule said. After Bihar, many groups in Uttar Pradesh have launched movements for total prohibition. In Agra, liquor addiction among shoe workers has been a major cause of concern. (IANS)