Ranchi: The agitation over the domicile issue in Jharkhand attained serious proportion on July 21 with two youths of the anti-domicile group attempting self- immolation in front of Raj Bhavan in Ranchi.

Akash Bhargav and Rajkumar Singh Raju of Jharkhand Upekshit Manch, who tried to immolate themselves, were physically lifted and whisked away by the police and lodged at Kotwali police station.

"They could be booked under Section 309 for trying self-immolation," a top police official said.

Bhargav was arrested and taken to police custody before he could attempt self- immolation. Raju, who reached Raj Bhavan fifteen minutes later, doused himself with kerosene. But the police, present at the spot in large numbers as part of the bandobast to counter the immolation threat issued by the Manch on July 20, snatched away the match-box before the youth could set himself afire.

The anti-domicile activists are camping at the police station demanding their immediate release and raising slogans in their support.

Bhargav said, "This is a do or die battle for us. Self immolation will continue till the government withdraws both domicile and 73 per cent reservation policies."

"If we can vote for Marandi as Chief Minister in the state, how can the government implement the domicile policy and deprive us of government jobs," he said.

PTI