Sadhu Vijay Das who attempted self-immolation is stable says official

A sadhu who had set himself on fire to protest against illegal mining in Deeg, Rajasthan on Wednesday is now stable.

“Sadhu Vijay Das (who set himself ablaze) in Deeg is stable now. The Sadhus have ended their protest (over stone mining). The state government will issue a notification in the next 15 days to declare its as a forest area. Mines located here are old mines,” District Collector, Alok Ranjan told ANI.

Amid protests over illegal mining in the area, Sadhu Vijay Das on Wednesday attempted self-immolation after which police officials rushed him to the hospital. For a long time, locals and sadhus had been demanding a ban on the mines.

Rajan further added, “These mines will be shifted and about 2,500 people who will be unemployed as a result, will be employed somewhere else…The state government intends to make it (stone mining area) into a religious tourism spot.”

Earlier on Tuesday morning, a sadhu climbed atop a mobile tower to protest stone mining in the area, and eventually he was persuaded to come down.