In yet another incident exposing the brazen face of Uttar Pradesh Police, a middle-aged woman, said to be the mother of a journalist, was molested and set ablaze by two policemen after she refused to “bribe” them to free her husband, reports said on Tuesday.
The 40-year-old woman, who suffered serious burns, died late last night.
“The woman admitted to the Trauma Centre in Lucknow died early morning during treatment”, Superintendent of Police Abdul Hamid said.
State’s Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today ordered a magisterial inquiry into the Barabanki incident and assured that strictest action will be taken against the guilty officials.
Government has ordered a magisterial inquiry, stringent action will be taken against the culprits, CM Akhilesh Yadav told reporters.
The shocking incident took place yesterday at Kothi Police Station here after which the authorities suspended the two officials and registered a case against them.
Ironically, both the policemen have denied the charge, saying that the woman had immolated herself.
The victim ‘Nitu Dwivedi’ was rushed to district hospital here and later referred to a Lucknow hospital’s Trauma Centre after her condition worsened.
Superintendent of Police Abdul Hamid later ordered the suspension of police station in-charge and sub-inspector against whom cases have been lodged under various sections of the IPC.
The woman, in her statement, before a Magistrate and media alleged that she was abused and humiliated when she refused to meet the demand of Rs one lakh for freeing her husband.
The visuals of the woman, whose son is associated with a Hindi daily, went viral on the electronic media as the incident took place barely a month after journalist Jagendra Singh was set on fire allegedly by some UP policemen in Shahjahanpur district.
The UP police had claimed that Nitu had gone to inquire about her husband Ram Narain, who was taken into custody on Saturday. They said that station in-charge Ram Saheb Singh Yadav and sub-inspector Akhilesh Rai allegedly humiliated, abused and chased her away.
In a fit of rage, she sprinkled petrol and set herself on fire at the gate of the police station, police said adding that she was rushed to district hospital in a serious condition.
Police said Ram Narain was brought to the police station on Saturday night for questioning in connection with firing over eve-teasing in Gaha village here.
However, others claim that the local police was angry with the victim’s reporter son who had been covering the local crime stories without fear and writing reports that had put the local police in a bad light.
Some also say that the victim and her husband were locked in a land dispute for some time, which was being mediated by the local police but they did not get any help.
The victim’s son later told reporters, “We want justice, my mother will only rest in peace when the guilty are punished.” He also questioned who brought kerosene in the police station as his mother had gone to meet the policemen alone.
The incident has triggered tension in the area and the locals are now on street demanding justice for the woman and immediate arrest of the guilty police officials.
Additional police force has also been deployed in the area in view of tension over the incident.
When asked for comments, ruling Samajwadi Party leader and UP minister Shivpal Yadav said the entire incident will be probed and strict action will be taken against the guilty.
Several prominent politicians from the state have severely criticised the UP Police and demanded strict action against the guilty officials.
