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Yogi Adityanath orders suspension of murder accused Lalganj SDM
The suspension of the SDM came on a day when employees staged a protest at the tehsil and district headquarters across Uttar Pradesh, demanding arrest of the accused and compensation for the next of kin of the victim
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday ordered the immediate suspension of the Lalganj sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Gyanendra Vikram Singh who is accused of assaulting a tehsil employee leading to his death. Lalganj tehsil is in Pratapgarh district.
Confirming the development, the UP’s CM office tweeted on Monday morning: “UP CM Yogi Adityanath has ordered suspension of Gyanendra Vikram, posted as sub divisional magistrate, Lalganj, taking cognizance of the complaint received against him in connection with the death of Sunil Kumar Sharma, an employee posted in tehsil Lalganj of Pratapgarh.”
Pratapgarh district magistrate Nitin Bansal confirmed the suspension of the Lalganj SDM by the state government.
The development came on a day when upset employees staged a protest at the tehsil and district headquarters across the state in protest against the incident. They demanded immediate arrest of the accused and compensation for the next of the kin of the victim.
Sunil Kumar Sharma, 58, posted as naib nazir (revenue official) at the tehsil, was admitted to the Pratapgarh district hospital on March 31. He died while undergoing treatment on April 2 night. An FIR was lodged against the Lalganj SDM on charges of murder and assault after the tehsil employees created a ruckus, demanding strict action against him following Sharma’s death.
Pratapgarh superintendent of police Satpal Antil said that all details regarding the case, including the medical report of the naib nazir’s assault, his post-mortem report and other records, are being collected and scrutinised.
“Efforts are being made to arrest the accused,” he said.
A resident of the government colony at Lalganj tehsil, Sharma allegedly had an argument with the SDM on March 30. On March 31, Sharma allegedly reached the office and informed his colleagues and lawyers about being assaulted by the SDM Lalganj and a few others. A video of Sharma also went viral in which he is seen showing his injuries to his colleagues while making allegations against the SDM. On March 31 evening, Sharma was admitted to the trauma centre at Lalganj. He was later shifted to the district hospital when his condition deteriorated further. Late on April 2 night, Sharma died.
A large number of tehsil employees reached the hospital and started protesting and demanding the arrest of the SDM. Senior police officials also reached the spot to pacify the protestors.
Late on April 2 night itself, Pratapgarh district magistrate Nitin Bansal issued orders to attach the Lalganj SDM to the district headquarters. The DM also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. An FIR was also been lodged in this connection and the body was sent for autopsy. The FIR was registered on Saturday night at Lalganj police station against Lalganj SDM Vikram and three others under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 302 (murder), superintendent of police Satpal Antil had said.
According to a PTI report, the FIR was registered based on the complaint of Sudhir Sharma, who alleged that the SDM and others entered his house, a government accommodation, on March 30 and attacked his father, Sunil Kumar Sharma, posted as naib nazir (revenue official), with rods and sticks as he could not meet the demand of giving 6,000 bricks.
Sunil Kumar Sharma died on Saturday night.
