Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

Murder case lodged against 6 cops after CM’s interventi­on

- HT Correspond­ent letters@hindustant­imes.com

GORAKHPUR : A case of murder was registered against six policemen under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code here on Wednesday in connection with the death of a Kanpur-based realtor in Gorakhpur on Monday night.

The case was lodged following a call to senior officials from chief minister Yogi Adityanath who ordered strict action against the police personnel allegedly involved in the incident.

The state government has announced Rs 10 lakh financial assistance for the family of the deceased.

Kanpur-based realtor Manish Gupta, 36, died under mysterious circumstan­ces following a midnight police raid at a hotel in Gorakhpur on Monday night.

The case was lodged against Ramgarh Tal station house officer (SHO) Jai Narayan Singh, Phal Mandi police post in-charge Akshay Mishra, subinspect­or Vijay Yadav and three unidentifi­ed police personnel. HT has a copy of the FIR.

The police personnel against whom a case of murder was registered are on the run since they were suspended on Tuesday.

Briefing reporters, Gorakhpur senior superinten­dent of police (SSP) Vipin Tada said, “Prima facie in this case, we had suspended six policemen. Now, on the basis of the complaint filed by the family of the deceased, we have filed a case so that an impartial probe can be conducted. Also, the honourable chief minister has announced ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the family.”

The deceased’s wife Meenakshi had reached Gorakhpur from Kanpur on Tuesday night and staged a sit-in at the gate of the BRD Medical College here. She had refused to take the body of her husband till a murder case was lodged against the SHO, the chowki incharge and

other policemen who conducted the raid on the hotel room where Manish was staying with his friends Hardeep Singh Chauhan, 33, and Pradeep Singh Chauhan, 32. The trio had driven to Gorakhpur to meet their friend Chandan Saini, a Bhojpuri film maker who had invited them to visit Gorakhpur.

Manish’s wife Meenakshi accused the policemen of having beaten her husband to death. She also said her husband’s body bore injury marks. The family tweeted to CM Yogi, demanding registrati­on of a murder case against all six policemen. They had rejected the claims of the SSP who, in a video, stated that Manish had died due to injuries caused to him when he slipped due to the chaos following the police arrival at night and called it an accident. Thanking CM Yogi for helping her, Meenakshi appealed for an impartial probe.

She left for Kanpur with her husband’s body later.

According to a report from Kanpur, after the body reached Barra area of the city, angry relatives of the deceased heckled police officials and sought arrest of the accused, compensati­on of Rs 50 lakh and job to wife. They have refused to cremate the body and it was kept outside the house. Kanpur commission­er of police Asim Arun was trying to convince the family, according to a late-night report. Arun said the family will meet chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday.

Family appears to be satisfied, they have demanded a fair investigat­ion and action against those involved, he said, adding that as for the cremation, the family will decide tomorrow.

Trader’s body writes to CM, seeks arrest of cops

The Uttar Pradesh Udyog Vyapar Mandal, a body of traders, has written to chief minister Yogi Adityanath, demanding immediate arrest of the policemen who have been charged with murder in connection with the death of Kanpur-based realtor Manish Gupta . They have also demanded action against senior officials as the FIR was lodged against the police personnel only on the CM’s interventi­on.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India