UP cop murder: Akhilesh orders CBI probe

Lucknow: Bowing to the demands of the widow of slain police official Zia-ul-Haq, killed by a mob in Pratapgarh late on Saturday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the murder of the deputy superintendent of police (DySP). Haq’s widow Parveen insisted that the chief minister meet the family and assure it justice. She refused to bury her husband until such an assurance was given. [caption id=“attachment_648231” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Akhilesh Yadav. PTI[/caption] The chief minister, with some officials, flew to Deoria and drove to the village of the deceased police official to offer floral tributes to the slain police official. Addressing the media after interacting with the family of Haq, the chief minister announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs.50 lakh to the family of the official and a government job for one family member. He also ordered a CBI investigation into the killing of Haq. Yadav said the government was shocked and saddened by the death of the police officer, and that no one found guilty of murder would be allowed to go scot-free. “The government has acted and would further act tough on the perpetrators of the heinous crime. Nobody will be allowed to get away from such a crime that took away a braveheart official from amongst us,” Yadav said. Haq had rushed to the village with a posse of policemen Saturday after violence broke out over the murder of the village headman and his brother. The violent mob had turned on the policemen, and Haq’s colleagues had fled, leaving him alone to deal with the mob. Earlier, former food and civil supply minister and independent legislator from Kunda, Raghuraj Pratap Singh aka Raja Bhaiyya also said that the matter had “become so complicated” that it was best that the CBI probe it. Raja Bhaiyya, who has been named in the first information report in the case, pleaded innocence and said he had only twice met the circle officer. He said he had found the officer a pleasant man. “If I had any annoyance with him, I would have easily got him transferred,” the powerful MLA said, while adding that only people with extreme animosity would think of taking someone’s life. He slammed the police for filing a wrong FIR (in which his name figures), saying the real culprits would probably get away. The director general of police (DGP) A.C. Sharma had earlier been sent as an emissary to the village of the deceased policeman, but he met a hostile reception. Villagers showed him bangles and slippers. They also raised slogans against the police and the government. After this, a missive was sent to the chief minister’s office apprising senior officials of the family’s demands. The chief minister then decided to meet the bereaved family. IANS