A few days from journalist Jagrendra Singh’s death after he was allegedly set on fire by Uttar Pradesh Minister for Backward Classes Welfare Ram Murti Singh Verma, Inspector Sri Prakash Rai and four others, Singh’s family took to the streets to stage a protest demanding CBI investigation in the case.
Demanding the arrest of the accused in the murder case, Singh’s wife reportedly told a news agency, “Nobody from administration has come to meet us yet. We demand CBI probe (in the matter).”
Bhartiya Janata Party spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao, highlighted that journalists have become a target of attack in UP and said, “It seems that journalists are a specific target of attack by the ruling party in UP. Possibly this is a warning signal to journalists, not to write anything against Samajwadi Party Goverment, and not to highlight ground reality.”
According to reports, another journalist was allegedly tied to bike, dragged and beaten up for land grab expose in Pilibhit, UP on Monday.
Responding to this, Rao was reported saying, “We condemn this with all the force at our command, and the culprits in both cases must immediately be booked.”
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.