Thursday, July 7 2005 15:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: The protest by advocates in Tamil Nadu against the amendments to Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) took an unexpected turn today (July 7, 2005) when a city advocate attempted self-immolation outside a court building.

The 27-year old Balakrishna, practising in the Egmore Metropolitan Magistrate Court, shocked everyone when he doused himself in kerosene and set himself ablaze and rushed towards the court building, police said.

Other protesting advocates put out the flames and rushed their colleague to a government hospital.

While a doctor attending on the lawyer said he was out of danger, some advocates claimed he suffered severe burns.

Advocates of Madras High Court, its bench in Madurai and sub-ordinate courts are boycotting work in protest against the amendments to the CrPC.