Self-Immolator For Special Status For AP Dies

41-year-old Muni Kama Koti, a Congress worker who set himself ablaze on Saturday to protest the Union government refusing Special Status for Andhra Pradesh, breathed his last on Sunday in the KMC Hospital at Chennai while undergoing treatment.

Koti, a supporter of the Congress, set himself ablaze seeking Special Status for the residual Andhra Pradesh at Tirupati during a Congress meeting.

Koti suffered over 60 per cent burn injuries, and was taken to the KMC Hospital at Chennai from Vellore after his condition deteriorated. Despite the best efforts of doctors, he passed away there.

After an autopsy, the body was handed over to the family members of Koti.

Koti had earlier been taken to the Ruia hospital at Tirupati, and then to Vellore, before being taken to Chennai.

Koti had participated actively in the united Andhra Pradesh agitation. It was stated that Koti was depressed over the Centre not according Special Status to AP.

Meanwhile, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who is in Chennai, termed the incident as unfortunate. The NDA government was committed to conferring Special Status on Andhra Pradesh, he said, adding that the problem had arisen following the Congress bifurcating the state in a hurry. (NSS)