An FIR was registered on Tuesday against Uttar Pradesh Minister for Backward Classes Welfare Ram Murti Singh Verma, Inspector Sri Prakash Rai and four others for allegedly killing Jagendra Singh, a journalist by setting him on fire, police told a news agency.
According to reports, Jagendra, a journalist hailing from Shahjahanpur, wrote a Facebook post under “Shahajanpur Samachaar” about the criminal activities of Samajwadi Party’s Ram Murthi, accusing him of illegal mining and forceful encroachment of land. Following this, Jagendra was allegedly manhandled by the minister and his men. His family has claimed that a police officer allegedly set the journalist on fire, who collapsed on his way top the hospital.
In the post, Jagendra blamed Murti of trying to obstruct one Amit Yadav from getting Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) ticket. He even accused Murti of backstabbing his own party members and helping a BJP leader in the Assembly elections and called him an opportunist.
The charges under which the minister and others in connection to the case have been booked are IPC 302 (murder), 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation).
Reportedly, the FIR was lodged at Puwayan police station after a complaint by Jagendra’s son Raghvendra regarding the same.