Journalist burnt himself, says postmortem report

The forensic report of the Uttar Pradesh Police in the alleged murder of the Shahjahanpur-based journalist, Jagendra Singh, has virtually given a clean chit to the accused minister Ram Murti Verma.


The report says that the journalist set himself on fire thereby letting off Verma and the police officials who were suspended after the journalist died on June 8. They had been charged with murder.


Ironically, this comes even as Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav assured 'justice' to the family of the journalist. He has also promised a Rs 30 lakh compensation and jobs to both sons, when he met the family members on Monday.


The Hindu report quoting the forensic report says that there was enough evidence to suggest that the burn injuries on Singh's body were self-inflicted. The postmortem report weighs in on the testimony of the main witness.


Singh, a freelance journalist, was allegedly set on fire on June 1 during a police raid at his house at Awas Vikas colony in Sadar Bazar area of Shahjananupr. He died during treatment at a hospital in Lucknow on June 8.


Singh's family had lodged a complaint with the police against UP minister Ram Murti Verma and five others, including policemen, at Puwayan police station of Shahjahanpur.


An FIR was registered against Verma and others under sections 302 (murder), 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 504 intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.


The video footage of dying declaration, which went viral on news channels and social media, showed Singh saying, "Why did they have to burn me? If the minister and his goons had a grudge, they could have beaten me instead of pouring kerosene and burning me."