The family of the two women who died in a fire during an anti-encroachment drive in on Monday evening, cremated the bodies on Wednesday after UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak assured action against accused officials. "The deputy CM has assured us that our demands will be met. He said Rs 1 crore and a government job, residential quarter and a land strip will be given to each of us (2 brothers) and lifetime pension for my father," said the deceased's son after conducting cremation.
Victims' family thrashed
The aggrieved family members were allegedly beaten up by police and the situation went out of control the anti-encroachment team members fled the spot. A picture of the deceased's father has been viral on social media in which he was seen injured with the cut marks on his face and forehead.
The victims' family members put forward their demand before District Magistrate (DM) Neha Jain and Superintendent of Police (SP) BBGTS Murthy for the registration of an FIR against Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Maitha) Gyaneshwar Prasad, Lekhpal Singh and others. Additional Director General of Police (Kanpur zone) Alok Singh, along with Divisional Commissioner Raj Shekhar, visited the village. Officials said locals had made a complaint to the DM against Lal for "encroaching" the "gram samaj" land. The SP said officials had gone to the village to carry out an anti-encroachment drive when the mother-daughter duo immolated themselves inside their hut.
Action so far in the case
Meanwhile, police arrested two amid simmering tension in the region. Four teams of police were formed to look into the investigations of the case. On Tuesday, police booked 39 people, including a sub-divisional magistrate, four revenue officials, a police station head and several other cops on murder and other charges.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Maitha) Gyaneshwar Prasad has been placed under suspension, said Inspector General of Police (Kanpur Range) Prashant Kumar.
An FIR has been registered on charges of murder, attempt to murder apart from mischief by killing or maiming cattle, mischief by fire with intent to destroy the house, etc and intentional insult. The JCB which was used in the demolition of the victims' house has been seized.
Pramila Dixit (45), and her daughter Neha (20), died in their hut that was set on fire, allegedly by policemen, during an anti-encroachment drive in Kanpur Dehat.
The district police had initially claimed that the women set themselves on fire. But in a swift U-turn, state police on Tuesday filed a murder case against 13 people, including the sub divisional magistrate, the in-charge of the local police station and the bulldozer operator. They have also been charged with attempted murder and voluntarily causing hurt.
The incident took place last evening in Madauli village when officials of police, district administration and the revenue department had gone to remove encroachments from a "gram samaj" or government land, a police officer said.
The villagers said the officials arrived with a bulldozer and that they were not given any prior notice.
"They started the fire while people were still inside. We were just about able to escape. They broke our temple. Nobody did anything, not even the district magistrate. Everybody ran, nobody could save my mother," said Pramila's son Shivam Dixit.
District police chief BBGTS Murthy had claimed that the woman and her daughter locked themselves inside the hut and set it on fire, which resulted in their death.
Divisional Commissioner Raj Shekhar later said an inquiry has been ordered. "It is a very unfortunate incident. We are with the family. We will not spare those responsible," he said.
SP slams Yogi Adityanath govt
The Samajwadi Party alleged that under the BJP rule, Brahmins are being targeted. Upper-caste Brahmins comprise an influential group in the state's political landscape.
"Under the Yogi (Adityanath) government, Brahmin families are targetted, and such incidents are taking place selectively. Like Dalits and backwards, Brahmins are also a target of atrocities of the Yogi government," the opposition party said in a tweet in Hindi. A delegation of Samajwadi leaders was prevented from going to the Madauli village where the incident took place.
Congress calls it dictatorship
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked the BJP over the incident, saying it is called "dictatorship" when the arrogance of power takes away people's right to live.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also attacked the BJP government, saying its bulldozer blinded by inhumanity has become a threat to sensitivity.
In a tweet in Hindi, Rahul Gandhi said, "When the arrogance of power takes away the people's right to live, it is called dictatorship.
" He said his mind is disturbed by the incident in Kanpur. "This 'bulldozer policy' has become the face of cruelty of this government. India does not accept this," the former Congress chief said.
The Congress leaders' attack came a day after the mother-daughter duo died allegedly due to self-immolation during an anti-encroachment drive in Kanpur Dehat.
In a tweet in Hindi, Priyanka Gandhi said, "No amount of condemnation is enough for the heart-wrenching incident in Kanpur.
"We all have to raise our voice against this inhumanity. The victim's family should get justice and strict action be taken against the culprits," she said in a tweet.
(With agencies input)
Victims' family thrashed
The aggrieved family members of the women allegedly beat up Lekhpal (revenue officer) Ashok Singh, following which the anti-encroachment team members fled the spot.
The victims' family members also put forward their demand before District Magistrate (DM) Neha Jain and Superintendent of Police (SP) BBGTS Murthy for the registration of an FIR against Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Maitha) Gyaneshwar Prasad, Lekhpal Singh and others. Additional Director General of Police (Kanpur zone) Alok Singh, along with Divisional Commissioner Raj Shekhar, visited the village. Officials said locals had made a complaint to the DM against Lal for "encroaching" the "gram samaj" land.
The SP said officials had gone to the village to carry out an anti-encroachment drive when the mother-daughter duo immolated themselves inside their hut.
