Answers sought in UP murder

SUPREME COURT BENCH ISSUES NOTICES TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, STATE’S AUTHORITIES

The Supreme Court yesterday issued notices to the central and the Uttar Pradesh governments on a plea for a CBI probe into the killing of journalist Jagendra Singh, allegedly at the behest of state minister Ram Murti Verma.

A vacation bench comprising Justices M.Y. Eqbal and Arun Mishra issued the notice on a public interest litigation (PIL) after senior counsel Adish C. Aggarwala urged the court to direct the CBI to probe the case.

The notice has also been issued to the Press Council of India. All three have to respond within two weeks.

PIL petitioner S. Jain urged the court to frame guidelines and issue directions that in the case of an unnatural death of a journalist, the investigation should be monitored by the district and sessions judge.

Jagendra Singh, a Saharanpur-based journalist, was doused with kerosene and allegedly set on fire by some Uttar Pradesh police personnel after a raid at his residence. He died of burn injuries on June 8.

Jagendra Singh had allegedly earned the wrath of minister Verma for posting the minister’s alleged illegal mining and land grabbing activities on his Facebook page.

The PIL petitioner said Jagendra Singh feared danger to his life from Verma and said so on his Facebook on May 22.

“In spite of all the evidence, no arrest has been made by the state police and there is every likelihood of destruction of evidence by them”, the PIL said.

The PIL petitioner said the “security of Indian journalists has long been compromised, particularly in small towns...”