Journalist Burn Alive : Father offered Rs 20 lakh, threatened to withdraw case
The father of the slain journalist said the men approached him as the family was getting ready to observe the rituals that follow 13 days after a death.
Jagendra Singh was allegedly set on fire by policemen conducting a raid at his Shahjahanpur home on June 1. He died on June 8 at a Lucknow hospital of severe burn injuries. The "police raid" was allegedly conducted at the behest of UP minister for backward classes welfare, Ram Murti Verma.
According to a leading national daily report, in a complaint to the local police onSunday, the journalist's father said a man claiming to be the public relations officer of Verma, accompanied by the lawyer of the anganwadi worker, visited on Saturday night with the "deal".
Sumer Singh said he was threatened with dire consequences if he rejected the deal. Locals present at the time chased the men away, Singh said.
Jagendra Singh's son Rahul said, "The man who identified himself as the minister's public relations man and the lawyer have been visiting us often in the past few days. On Saturday night, they took my mother and grandfather aside and asked them to withdraw the case against the minister, promising Rs 20 lakh and a government job to someone in the family."
The duo reportedly assured Jagendra Singh's wife that a senior minister would arrive and assure a fair probe into the matter. The minister would be shown urging the family to break its fast, the two reportedly said 'Listen to us, you will benefit' they said.
DIG Range RKS Rathor also visited the family. Rathor said,"I was only visiting to instill confidence in the family and assess their need for security . I have been told of the threats and persuasion, and instructed my men to lodge a complaint."
Station officer Rajesh Kumar Singh of Khutahar police station said,"A complaint has been received. We are investigating.
