Overview
- Jaiswal, injured Saturday during the BJP’s Mahila Janaakrosh March near the Bahraich district magistrate’s residence, suffered superficial burns on her forehead.
- Doctors at the district hospital reported burns to about four percent of her forehead with singed hair, then she went to Lucknow for further consultation with a plastic surgeon.
- Police said a sudden burst likely forced flames toward her face due to trapped air inside the effigy, while a local BJP leader suggested heavy use of petrol or spirit could have intensified the fire.
- A video of the flare-up was shared by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav on X, and Congress leader Supriya Shrinate urged caution as the clip spread widely online.
- Effigy burning, a common protest tactic that uses enclosed papier-mâché and accelerants, can create unpredictable flare-ups, which officials and commentators say warrants stricter safety steps at demonstrations.