In a bid to douse the fire of protest against inaction in the Shahjahanpur journalist Jagendra Singh case, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has announced a financial help of Rs. 30 lakh for the scribe’s family and assured government jobs for two of his children.
Mr. Yadav made these announcements after his meeting with the father and son of the deceased journalist at his official residence on Monday. While officials were silent 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.
During the meeting, Mr. Yadav assured the scribe’s son Rahul that an impartial inquiry would be conducted in the case and the guilty would be punished. Mr. Yadav said the DIG, Bareilly Range, RKS Rathore, has been entrusted with the probe. The Chief Minister was 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, Rahul 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 (Shahjahanpur) since the last fortnight demanding action against the accused and a CBI inquiry.
Jagendra 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.
