In a bid to douse the fires of protest against inaction in the Shahjahanpur journalist Jagendra Singh case, who is alleged to have been set afire, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has announced a financial help of Rs.30 lakh for the scribe’s family. He also assured Government jobs for two of deceased journalist’s children.
Mr. Yadav made these announcements after meeting with the father and son of Mr. Singh at his official residence on Monday.
While officials were mum on who facilitated the journalist’s kin meeting with the Chief Minister, sources said they were called by Mr. Yadav, who has faced flak for taking no action against one of his Ministers, Ram Murti Singh Verma, whose name figures in the FIR lodged by the journalist’s son in Shahjahanpur on June 9.
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In the meeting, Mr. Yadav assured them that an impartial inquiry would be conducted and the guilty would be punished. Mr. Yadav said the DIG, Bareilly Range, R.K.S. Rathore, has been entrusted with the probe.
The Chief Minister was also apprised by the journalist’s family members of a dispute related to their land and was requested for an early solution. Mr. Yadav directed the Shahjahanpur District Magistrate to look into the matter.
Following their meeting with the Chief Minister, Mr. Jagendra Singh’s son told journalists that the indefinite dharna in Shahjahanpur would be called off. The journalist’s family members, including his widow and children, had been sitting on a dharna at his parental house in Kutthar in Shahjahanpur since the last fortnight demanding action against the accused and a CBI inquiry.
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Mr. Singh had been allegedly set afire at his Avas Vikas Colony residence in Shahjahanpur on June 1 for reportedly exposing the alleged corrupt practices of the men in power, including the Minister of State for Backward Classes Welfare and Shajahanpur MLA, Ram Murti Singh Verma. The Shahjahanpur police have claimed that the journalist had committed self-immolation on June 1 and after being admitted to the District Hospital was referred to Shyama Prasad Mukerjee Civil Hospital in Lucknow. Mr. Singh expired on June 8.
While the five policemen, including the Inspector of Kotwali police station, Sri Prakash Rai, who are alleged to have set the journalist on fire, have been suspended, the Minister has remained scot free. Neither has any action been taken against the four others named in the FIR lodged by Mr. Singh’s son on June 9.
Irrigation Minister and chief spokesperson of Samajwadi Party Shivpal Singh Yadav has already stated that no Minister would be sacked without an inquiry. The ruling party and the Government appear to be in a dilemma. Mr. Verma is from the Backward Lodh caste and taking action against him would antagonise the Lodhs who have a dominant influence in Central Uttar Pradesh, sources in the Samajwadi Party said.