Minister’s gunner kills self,fearing dowry charges against family

Ashok Rathaur,a colleague of the deceased,said that after Suresh came to know about his daughter-in-law’s self-immolation bid at his native village in Bisarwan in Rae Barelli district,he was very depressed and feared that his family would be slapped with dowry charges.

He had also sought the minister’s help in case an FIR was lodged against him and his family members by his son’s in-laws.

The minister confirmed about his meeting with Suresh and said that he had assured him unbiased police investigation if any such case was registered. Suresh,who was deputed on shadow duty from the Security Headquarters,returned to his room at minister’s 10-A,Kalidas Marg residence around 2.30 am.

Rathaur said that he and his colleague Rakesh Kumar woke up after they heard gunshot around 4.45 am. They found Suresh lying in a pool of blood and his service pistol near his hand. They then informed the minister. His daughter-in-law has fifty per cent burns and is battling for her life at Civil Hospital in Hazratganj. Suresh had gone to see her after he was informed about the incident.

On Wednesday,police registered a case against Suresh,his wife Urmila and sons Raju and Babbu for allegedly harassing Renu for dowry and setting her ablaze causing burns.

Renu’s uncle Satya Narain Singh of Jaunpur district lodged the FIR at the Mohanganj police station.

SP of Rae Barelli,Tarun Gauba told The Indian Express that Narain had filed the complaint on Tuesday night,but the case was registered on Wednesday after primary investigation.

Suresh probably had come to know about the complaint and fearing the consequences he took the extreme step,he added.