Journalist's death: BJP demands CBI probe

BJP today sought a CBI probe into the death of Uttar Pradesh-based journalist Jagendra Singh and accused the state's Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav of "misusing" his position to protect his cabinet minister, who allegedly played a role in the scribe's suspected murder.
Lack of action against the accused UP minister Ram Murti Verma, who was named by the deceased in his dying declaration, has invited allegations that the Akhilesh-led Samajwadi Party was trying to save the guilty.
Referring to a preliminary forensic report which suggests that burn injuries on Singh were "self-inflicted", BJP Secretary Shrikant Sharma alleged that the report was hurriedly prepared to make it appear to be a case of suicide.

"This is nothing but 'jungle raaj' and the forensic report shows this. The journalist said kerosene oil was poured on him and he was set afire. His family held dharna and the Supreme Court has taken note of the plea seeking a CBI probe.
"Immediately, Akhilesh Yadav gave the family Rs 30 lakh as compensation which is basically a price for Singh's death. The forensic report claiming it to be a case of suicide was hurriedly prepared. It is very unfortunate that the chief minister is using his office to save a minister," he said.
BJP demands a CBI probe so that those who are guilty are caught and punished, he said.

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 Shahjahanpur. He died during treatment at a hospital in Lucknow on June 8.
Verma and five others have been booked 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.