Retrenched employee tries to commit suicide, others stage demo

A retrenched employee, part of 3,000 people who tried to stage a demonstration near the assembly here today demanding their reinstatement, allegedly tried to commit suicide by setting himself ablaze, but was prevented by police.
Police said Deivigan,convenor of the Association of Retrenched Workers, doused kerosene over his body and tried to set himself ablaze. However he was prevented from doing so.
The workers, engaged as temporary staff by the previous AINRC government, were dismissed from PWD during the run up to the May 16 Assembly polls on the Election Commission's order.