Murdered Apple executive cremated, ministers face family ire

Apple executive Vivek Tiwari, shot dead by a policeman on Saturday after he did not stop his vehicle during checking, was cremated here on Sunday amid heart rending scenes.

The last rites took place at the Bhainsakund crematorium.

Medical Education Minister Ashutosh Tandon and Law Minister Brajesh Pathak, who went to attend the cremation, faced a hostile reception as angry relatives charged them with being a part of a "trigger happy" system.

Pathak had a tough time calming the relatives and he assured all possible help to them, now and always. He promised that the guilty policemen will not be spared for their criminal action.

Kalpana Tiwari, the distraught widow of the Apple area sales manager, remained adamant that she be allowed to meet Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and that the state government give her a compensation of Rs 1 crore.

"I am worried about the future of my two daughters... They have snatched away the lone bread earner of the family. I will not relent till justice is done," she said between sobs.

The state government late on Saturday announced a Rs 25 lakh compensation to the family of the deceased and a job to Kalpana Tiwari in the Lucknow Municipal Corporation.

This, the family says, was not enough for the family to lead their lives and sustain the education and other expenses of the two daughters of Tiwari, who was shot by police constable Prashant Chowdhary after a late night chase of his car.

The policeman alleged that they found Vivek Tiwari's vehicle suspiciously parked and that when they tried to ask him to come out, he sped away after knocking down their mobike.

In a statement, the accused constable has claimed that he was hurt in the incident and his bike was damaged.

This was, however, found to be untrue in the initial probe. The constable has been suspended and sent to jail on charges of murder.

He and his companion Santosh Kumar have been dismissed from service on the directive of Director General of Police O.P. Singh who has since tendered an apology for the action of the men in uniform.

A complaint was also lodged against the two constables at the Gomtinagar police station by the widow of the deceased.

An FIR was separately lodged on Saturday based on the complaint of Sana Khan, a colleague of Tiwari who alleged that the constable shot him from close range without any provocation.

The state government has set up a special investigative team (SIT) to probe the killing which has caused outrage.

Vishnu Tiwari, brother-in-law of the deceased, said they had no faith in the SIT probe as it would try to save fellow policemen. He sought a CBI probe into the matter and security for the family of the deceased.

The family has alleged that Prashant Chowdhary, the accused constable, was drunk and was demanding money from Tiwari. On failing to get any money, he opened fire.

--IANS

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