With the Government yet to decide on recommending the probe of sensational killing of former MlA Sarvesh Singh aka Seepu into the hands of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the family members of the slain leader finally went on hunger strike to press for their demand for an inquiry by a Central agency.
They already claimed to have no faith in local investigating agencies and had threatened to launch an agitation if the State Government will not concede to their demand. The family also warned of going to court if they failed to get justice from the Government. Various political parties already demanded compensation to kin of those killed in police firing during protests that broke out over his death.
“We are completing the formalities before taking any final decision whether the matter should be handed over to the CBI or not,” claimed special secretary (Home) Arun Kumar Mishra here on Thursday evening. However, he said that the recommendation from the district was also not send on prescribe performa hence delay was made on taking decision in the matter.
The former BSP MlA’s wife Vandana Singh, brother Santosh Singh Teepu, other relatives and some of his supporters started their strike in front of collectrate on Thursday morning, claiming that Government had failed to act on its assurance to recommend CBI inquiryinto his death. The BSP leader’s kin are demanding `25 lakh compensation to families of each of those killed and `10 lakh to those injured in police firing, they said. Seepu’s family also demanded that cases lodged against people in the violence that broke out after his death should be withdrawn. They said the hunger strike would continue till their demands were met.
To show their solidarity with the slain leader, local traders closed their establishments in in Jiyanpur area and had also blocked
busy Azamgarh-Gorakhpur route for several hours. Various political and social organisations have already extended their support to the agitation. BJP national president Rajnath Singh’s son and State party general secretary Pankaj Singh also announced to visit the place and support the family in their quest for a CBI probe.