Bhopal: Under fire over the killing of a young IPS officer allegedly by the mining mafia, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday announced that his government will recommend a CBI probe, a demand made by the victim’s family.
The issue rocked the State Assembly which was adjourned for the day after the Congress stormed the Well demanding a CBI probe into the killing of 30-year-old Narendra Kumar Singh in Morena district last week.
The CBI probe was being recommended at the instance of the slain IPS officer’s wife Madhurani Tewatia, an IAS officer, Chouhan later said at a press conference here. He also said that there was no question of Madhurani, an IAS officer posted in Madhya Pradesh, changing her state cadre. Madhurani had while insisting on a CBI probe said that no honest officer will work in the state if such incidents happen and there is no safety and security.
Singh, who was posted as the Banmore Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP), was allegedly mowed down by a member of the mining mafia on March 8 when he tried to stop the tractor-trolley carrying illegally mined stones.
“I have accepted Madhurani as my sister and as a daughter of Madhya Pradesh,” Chouhan said. Asked about the ruckus in the Assembly, he said the state government was ready to discuss the adjournment motion on the officer’s killing but the Congress was shying away from it. He accused the Congress of being interested only in “cheap politics” and in maligning the name of the state.
As the House re-assembled after the Holi break, the Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh raised the issue during Question Hour with Congress members sporting black scarves as a mark of protest. He demanded that the Chief Minister announce a CBI probe in the Assembly. However, Speaker Iswardas Rohani said he had received the notice for the adjournment motion and would take it up for discussion soon after Question Hour. Intervening at this juncture, Chouhan urged the Speaker to suspend Question Hour and take up the motion for discussion. After this, the Speaker admitted the motion for discussion given by Congress leaders, including Govind Singh, Ram Niwas Rawat, Ajay Singh, Mahendra Singh Kalukheda and Choudhry Rakesh Singh Chaturvedi. However, Congress members led by Arif Aqeel trooped into the well of the House demanding an immediate announcement of a CBI probe before the motion was taken up. As the uproar continued, the House was adjourned till tomorrow.
Ajay Singh later claimed that the state government’s decision to recommend CBI probe was under pressure from the Congress.
The state government has removed the incharge of the Banmore police station under whose limits the brutal incident had occurred. (PTI)
