Man dies after setting himself on fire at India temple protest

    A man has died after setting himself on fire at a protest over a temple in India.

    Venugopalan Nair, 49, suffered 60 per cent burns and died in hospital. Hindustan Times reports he set himself alight near to the location of a sit-in by political party BJP, against what he believed to be the Kerala government’s anti-Sabarimala stand.

    On 28 September India’s Supreme Court ended a centuries-old ban on women between 10 and 50-years-old entering the Sabarimala temple.

    Large-scale protests have taken place since the ruling to stop women completing the journey, with multiple arrests reported.

    More from International

    Listener Club

    Get more with the Listener Club!

    • Bhangra Nights Bhangra Nights

      Get over the Weekday blues - Every Tuesday night is party night with the best Bhangra and Urban Asian Beats. The Bhangra Show every Tuesday between 8pm-11pm

    • Alim OnAir Alim OnAir

      Have you a question about the religious, cultural or tradition aspect of Islam? Then join Hazrat Maulana Fazal Dad in the weekly show every Friday between 8-9pm.

    • The Golden Era The Golden Era

      The golden era of Bollywood celebrated in this weekly show full of classics taking you back in time. Every Sunday between 5pm - 7pm

    • Legal Show Legal Show

      Once a fortnight we dedicate a show to discussing legal issues and family / matrimonial law in particular. Alternate Friday mornings between 9am-11pm.