Indian sets himself alight to protest against Rajapaksa visit

A Tamil man has set himself on fire to protest against the proposed visit of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse to India, police said.

Vijayaraj, a 26-year-old trade union activist, shouted slogans against Mr Rajapaksa before setting himself on fire, Press Trust of India reported.

The incident occurred at a bus station in Salem district in Tamil Nadu state.

He has been taken to hospital with 95% burns and his condition is critical, police say.

President Rajapaksa is due to visit Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh where he is due to lay the foundation stone for an international Buddhist university this week.

There is a large Tamil community in Sri Lanka and many Indian Tamils accuse President Rajapaksa of atrocities against the community during the 2009 conflict in the island nation.