Dalit leader commits suicide in UP

Lucknow : Baliram Prasad, a Dalit leader who contested Assembly polls in 1962 and 1967, set himself afire at Ambedkar Park in Azamgarh Monday. He was about 75 years old.

Baliram reportedly left a suicide note in which he cited his unhappiness with the political situation as reason for his decision to take his life.

His son Ashok said Baliram was “not in a balanced state of mind” for some time.

Baliram was associated with the Republican Party of India. Some 10 years ago, Baliram had launched his Ambedkar Samaj Party.

Ashok claimed his father had worked for the BSP too but Balihari Babu, a founder member of the BSP who is now with the Congress said: “He was never associated with the BSP movement.”