Woman set ablaze at UP police station dies; inquiry ordered

The mother of a journalist had accused police officials of setting her ablaze after she refused to bribe them to free her husband

The mother of a journalist, who had accused police officials of setting her ablaze at a police station after she refused to bribe them to free her husband, today succumbed to injuries following which a magisterial inquiry was ordered into the incident.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said stern action will be taken against those found guilty in the report.

SP, Barabanki, Abdul Hamid said that the woman admitted to a Lucknow hospital died this morning during treatment.

Though police maintained that the middle-aged woman tried to commit suicide by immolating herself at Kothi Police Station alleging "humiliation and abuse" by police, the victim had charged the police station in-charge and sub-inspector with torching her when she refused to give Rs one lakh for the release of her husband.

The woman, whose son is associated with a local Hindi daily, had said in a statement before a magistrate and the media that she was allegedly abused and humiliated when she refused to meet the demand of Rs one lakh for freeing her husband.

According to police, Nitu had gone to enquire about her husband Ram Narain, who was taken into custody on Saturday, when the 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 allegedly sprinkled petrol and set herself on fire at the gate of the police station, police said, adding that she was rushed to the district hospital in a serious condition from where she was referred to Trauma Centre, Lucknow.

Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said, "A magisterial inquiry has been ordered and stern action will be taken against those found guilty in the report."

As far as action against the policemen is concerned, it has already been initiated and whatever more is required will be done, Yadav added.

The SP has suspended both the policemen against whom cases have been lodged under various sections of the IPC.

Police said Ram Narain was brought to the police station on Saturday night for questioning in connection with firing over an incident of harassment of a girl in Gaha village.

The incident comes barely a month after journalist Jagendra Singh was set on fire allegedly by some UP policemen in Shahjahanpur district.

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.