Lottery seller set on fire by miscreants in West Bengal’s Midnapore, critical condition reported
Midnapore: A roadside lottery seller was set ablaze by unidentified miscreants in Midnapore town, West Midnapore district, on Saturday morning. The victim, identified as Surajit Sau, sustained severe burn injuries and is currently in a critical condition.
According to eyewitnesses, Sau was seated at his small lottery stall when a group of miscreants arrived, doused him with petrol, and set him on fire. The attackers fled the scene immediately after the act.
Sau, engulfed in flames, reportedly ran through a nearby lane filled with parked vehicles, causing panic among bystanders. Local youngsters managed to intervene and extinguish the fire before police personnel arrived.
Initially rushed to a local hospital, Sau was later transferred to a hospital in Kolkata due to the severity of his injuries.
Locals informed the police that Sau had been receiving threats from local goons demanding extortion money for operating his tea stall. An eyewitness claimed that three individuals on a motorcycle executed the attack and fled.
Police have launched a detailed investigation into the matter and are examining CCTV footage from the area. Officials suspect that the assailants may have been known to the victim.
Meanwhile, local BJP leaders have condemned the incident, alleging a rise in criminal activities in Midnapore and accusing the police of inaction despite repeated complaints.
The situation has triggered outrage in the community, raising concerns over law and order in the region.
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Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao criticizes Centre for steep hike in commercial LPG price
Bengaluru: Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has slammed the BJP government in the Centre for the hike in the price of commercial LPG, saying the sudden rise of the fuel rate by Rs 993 a cylinder has hit the common man hard.
Critically commenting that this was expected of the Centre after elections to five states, Rao posted in Kannada on his ‘X’ account on Saturday that the people have been shown only the trailer and, the real struggle is yet to begin.
“Since there is no election in any state, there will certainly be major hikes in the rates of petrol, diesel and domestic LPG in barely a few days,” he has predicted.
The minister has further tweeted, “The rate of commercial LPG has gone up to Rs 3,152 per cylinder, which will hit the hotel industry greatly. Ironically, the direct impact of the hike will be on customers of hotel.”
He pointed out that, earlier, the price used to be hiked by approximately Rs 50 and Rs 100 a cylinder. “This time, the rate has been shot up by Rs 993. What do we call this except daylight robbery? Can this be the ‘Acche Din’ that the BJP has been promising?” Rao asked mockingly.
He also questioned the cause for BJP members’ silence for the rate hike, reminding that the party always ‘threw a tantrum’ when a non-BJP government does so even at a minor level. “Does this reflect their fear of ‘Vishwaguru’ Modi? Is it the party’s sheer disregard for the welfare of the people?” he has questioned.
ಊಹಿಸಿದಂತೆಯೇ ಪಂಚರಾಜ್ಯ ಚುನಾವಣೆ ಬಳಿಕ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಬೆಲೆಯೇರಿಕೆಯ ಛಾಟಿ ಬೀಸಲು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದೆ. ಕಮರ್ಷಿಯಲ್ ಸಿಲಿಂಡರ್ ಬೆಲೆಯನ್ನು ಏಕಾಏಕಿ ₹993 ಏರಿಸುವ ಮೂಲಕ ಮರ್ಮಘಾತ ನೀಡಿದೆ. ಚುನಾವಣೆ ಮುಗಿದ ಕೂಡಲೇ ಬೆಲೆಯೇರಿಕೆ ನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿತವಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಆದರೆ ಒಂದೇ ಭಾರಿ ₹993 ಹೆಚ್ಚಳ ಮಾಡಿರುವುದು ಅನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿತದ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಆಘಾತ ತಂದಿದೆ.…
— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) May 2, 2026
