Madhumita's family wants death for Amarmani

The family of slain poetess Madhumita Shukla on Wednesday demanded capital punishment for former UP minister Amarmani Tripathi and others, who were awarded life imprisonment by a Dehradun court.

Madhumita's mother Shanti Devi said the verdict was "not a relief" for the family as Tripathi had on previous occasions "threatened and harassed" them and tried to win over them using money power.

"This is not a relief for us. When he was in jail earlier, he used to threaten us and harass us. He tried to pay us earlier. He will continue to do the same," she said soon after the court sentenced Tripathi, his wife Madhumani, cousin Rohit Chaturvedi and a contract killer to life imprisonment.

"My appeal to the people is not to elect him again as their MLA because as long as he holds on to his post, he will continue to wield power," she added.

Demanding death sentence for the convicts, Nidhi Shukla, Madhumita's sister who was fighting the case, said though she respects the verdict of the court, she was "not satisfied" with that.

"The four should be given death sentence. Moreover, the issue is whether Amarmani will undergo the sentence in the reckoning or will he walk free using his influence," she said.

She said she was worried about her security as "threats were continuing".

"As far as the threats are concerned, I have already said these people are more of criminals than leaders," she added.