Shabnam case IO gets due after seven years

LUCKNOW: Blood soaked axe, blood stained clothes, mobile phone, SIM wrapped in paper and empty wrapper of biopose (diazepam) tablets were five objects crucial during trial against Shabnam and Saleem. The couple from Hasanpur tehsil in Amroha district killed seven members of Shabnam’s family seven years back and convicted for the heinous act this year. Seven-week pregnant Shabnam’s family was opposed to her relationship with Saleem while the two wanted to get married.
While the conviction of the two was upheld by Apex Court in May, on Monday it was perhaps the first time Rajendra Prasad Gupta, the retired policeman who investigated the case got his due. DGP UP A K Jain presented a citation and Rs 50,000 to Gupta who retired in 2012. “I am overwhelmed and feel on cloud nine,” said Gupta at DGP headquarters.
In a move that would boost the morale of more than 2.50 lakh police personnel, on Monday Gupta and two more cops who worked extra hard to get criminals behind the bars got their share of limelight. Apart from Gupta, sub-inspector Brajesh Kumar Sharma from Ghaziabad and DySP Dhananjay Singh Khushwaha bagged second and third spots and got Rs 35,000 and Rs 25,000 for taking investigations to a logical end. Sharma had cracked a daring dacoity case which took place in Indirapuram area of Ghaziabad in 2010 within 24 hours. The assailants served more than four years prison time.
Similarly, Khuswaha ensured conviction of Ram Ujagir Lonia with the help of strong case-diary he prepared against Lonia. In 2011, Lonia had raped and killed 11-year-old dalit girl in Patranga area of Faizabad district. Khushwaha handled the case as circle officer of Rudauli area.
DGP Jain said efforts of hardworking policemen need to be lauded to instill more confidence in them. On Tuesday, sleuths from Special Task Force would be awarded for nabbing hardcore criminals. From May, police top brass had called for entries from all 75 districts. The best three investigations were selected by a panel and officials who handled the case awarded.
Till five years back governor used to dole out prize for best police investigation but the practice was discontinued till this year.