Two women burnt alive during demolition drive in Kanpur Dehat

Hundreds of villagers resort to brick-batting and force admn teams to beat hasty retreat. Senior officers reach Madauli village where a heavy contingent of police has been deployed due to simmering tension

KANPUR A woman and her daughter were burnt alive after a thatched house caught fire when the police and administration teams were clearing encroachments in a Kanpur Dehat village on Monday. The deceased were identified as Pramila, 44, and her daughter Neha, 21, said officials.

Villagers outside the rubble of a house during an anti-encroachment drive, in Kanpur Dehat on Monday. (PTI Photo)

They said sub-divisional magistrate (Maitha) Gyaneshwar Prasad went to Madauli village of Maitha tehsil area in the morning with police and revenue department employees to remove encroachments from gram samaj land after a complaint of encroachment by one Krishna Kumar, husband of the deceased woman.

Several structures, including the thatched house, were demolished by an earthmover brought by officials. The woman and her daughter were trapped inside and died in the blaze, alleged villagers. Krishna Kumar suffered severe burn injuries while trying to save them.

News of the incident spread like wildfire, after which hundreds of villagers resorted to brick-batting and forced the teams to beat a hasty retreat. Senior police officers, including ADG (zone) Alok Singh, reached Madauli village of Maitha tehsil area where heavy police contingent had been deployed due to simmering tension.

“Two women died during the anti-encroachment drive and the police are looking into the case,” said Alok Singh, ADG (zone).