Woman, daughter kill selves during Kanpur anti-encroachment drive

The incident took place when a team of district administration officials led by the local sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) went to demolish the structure which was allegedly built on panchayat land.

The villagers staged a protest and accused the administration officials of setting the house on fire. The angry locals attacked the officials and chased them out of the village. Two government employees, including a lekhpal, got injured in the attack. Two government vehicles also got damaged. The villagers demanded adequate compensation for the family besides action against the erring officials.

District Magistrate Neha Jain, however, denied the allegations of officials setting the house on fire.

Kanpur Commissoner Raj Shekhar said a detailed inquiry has been ordered into the incident and strict action will be taken against the guilty. The administration is providing all possible help to the deceased’s family and are in touch with them, he added.

Additional Director General (Kanpur zone) Alok Singh said they are enquiring the matter. “If the victims’ family files a complaint, action will be taken against the guilty as per the law.”

DM Jain said it was the victims who set themselves on fire.

Officials said a complaint was received last month from a relative of the family that Pramila’s husband Krishna Gopal Dixit had built a house on the panchayat land. An administration team went to the village at that time and removed the encroachment, they claimed. A case was also lodged against Krishna Gopal, they added.

The officials said they again received a complaint last week that Krishna Gopal again built a thatched cottage at the same place. On Monday, a revenue team led by SDM Gyaneshwar Prasad along with police personnel went to the village to find that Krishna Gopal built a religious structure at the place, they claimed.

“When the administration team and police were busy removing the encroachment, Pramila went inside the hut and locked it from inside. Few minutes later, the officials spotted flames emanating out of the hut. The team managed to bring Krishna Gopal and his son Shivam out of the house safely. A police official also suffered minor burn injuries,” the officials added.

A fire tender was also called to the spot.

A video of Pramila going inside the hut and locking it from inside also surfaced on social media.