The family members of scribe, who was allegedly killed at behest of Minister of State for Backward Welfare, Ram Murti Verma, on Thursday alleged a local sub-inspector is pressurising them to withdraw the case and made a compromise in the matter.
“A lady sub-inspector Seema Singh, who came to record our statement regarding the murder, had threatened us with dire consequences if we do not withdraw the case and make a compromise,” alleged family members of the journalist. They claimed to have passed on the information to senior officers but they refused to take cognisance. A forensic expert team from Moradabad also reached the incident spot to collect evidences.
Reports also said a team of Press Council of India (PCI), which already made announcement to visit and take first hand account of the case before pursuing the matter with the State Government, would reportedly visit Shahjahenpur on Saturday.
Suman Gupta, a member in the team said, we will investigate the involvement of administration in the death of scribe and will also talk to his kin.
It may be mentioned that a case was registered against the Minister along with five other people, including a police inspector under sections 302, 120 B, 504 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code.
The kin of deceased scribe in their complaint alleged that Jogendra was writing news against the Minister and then on June 1, the scribe was set ablaze under suspicious conditions, later the scribe succumbed to his injuries.