Woman who was ‘set ablaze by cops’ dies, kin demand CBI probe

“A magisterial inquiry has been ordered and stern action will be taken against those found guilty in the report,” Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav told reporters in Lucknow. Sub-divisional magistrate, Haidergarh, Guru Prasad Gupta, will conduct the inquiry, Akhilesh said, adding action had been initiated against the cops concerned.

District Magistrate, Barabanki, Yogeshwar Ram Mishra, said a cheque of Rs 5 lakh has been handed over to woman’s husband, Ram Narayan Dwivedi, and job of Anganwadi worker has been promised to one female member of the family. Mishra said all the facts, including the dying declaration statement of the woman, will be included in the probe, which has been handed over to Station Officer, Loni Katra police station, Arun Dwivedi.

Meanwhile, a departmental inquiry has also been initiated against the against suspended police officers, Kothi SO Rai Sahab Yadav and sub-inspector (S-I) Akhilesh Rai. They have already been booked on charges of abetment to suicide and and wrongful confinement.

However, expressing dissatisfaction over the sections under which the case has lodged against the two accused police officials, Santosh, the victim’s son, who is a stringer with a local Hindi daily, said, “A murder case should be lodged and they should be arrested immediately. The case lodged against them is not satisfactory… it only concerns the charge of using abusive language,” he said, adding that the two policemen have been suspended for keeping his father Ram Narayan in illegal confinement for over 24 hours. “Given these charges, the two will get reinstated very easily,” he said.

“We want a CBI inquiry. We demand that action be taken as per the dying declaration of my mother,” Santosh said, adding they might seek time to meet the chief minister soon to raise their demands.