Did Cong worker with 81% burns attempt suicide?

Yes, says man in his statement to cops as he was humiliated by party workers; no, says Narayan Rane, and blames cell phone explosion

Yes, says man in his statement to cops as he was humiliated by party u00a0workers; no, says Narayan Rane, and blames cell phone explosion

Did Congress party worker Vilanju Ravaji Laxman, admitted with severe burns to a city hospital, attempt suicide or did his cell phone explode?

The police have registered a case of attempted suicide, but senior Congress leader Narayan Rane said that Laxman was injured in a 'mobile blast'.

The victim, Laxman (40), a Congress worker from Kankavli in Konkan, was brought to Masina Hospital at midnight on Monday with 81 per cent burns.
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NO FOUL PLAY? Senior Congress leader Narayan Rane at Masina Hospital yesterday.

In his statement to the N M Joshi police station, Laxman said he had set himself on fire.

DCP Suhas Warke refused to divulge Laxman's reasons for the attempt and added, "It is premature to divulge any information as we are still investigating the incident," he said.

However, sources say that Laxman was humiliated and pushed to commit suicide because Congress party workers had beaten him up. The reason is still not known.

'It was an accident'

Meanwhile, Rane who visited the hospital said that he had not heard of any reports of Laxman attempting suicide or being assaulted.

"He told me that it was an accident his mobile phone exploded. I have also spoken to doctors at the hospital," said Rane.

Confirmed a partyworker, "He was talking on his phone at the Arthur Road junction, when it exploded. There is no question of foul play!"

Laxman was first taken to KEM Hospital and then referred to Masina Hospital. Dr Arvind Vartak said that Laxman's chances of survival were slim. "He is in a critical condition with 81 per cent burns," he said.

Cell Explosions

Cell phone experts say, a lithium battery overexposed to heat can explode. Lithium batteries are the ones most commonly used in phones

In February 2009, a shop assistant died in China after his phone battery exploded in his handset that he had placed in his pocket.

He had changed the battery and had just finished charging it. In 2007, a man found dead was believed to have been killed by his exploding phone as a melted battery was found in the shirt pocket on the corpse.