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Union minister Prahlad Patel Thursday announced that he would give up the security cover provided to him by the Damoh police in Madhya Pradesh to register his protest over the case filed against his loyalist in connection with the suicide of a ration shop salesman.
In a two-page suicide note of Vikram Rohit of Damoh who died five days ago, allegations of mental harassment were made against Patel’s loyalist and municipal corporation representative Yashpal Thakur, BJP leader Monty Taikwar, Narendra Parihar, and Narmada Suryavanshi.
The suicide note also mentioned the name of Patel, in which it was stated that the accused were trying to put pressure on him by using the minister’s name to seize the ration shop. “Till the time I am alive, these people did not give me any work,” it read.
The union minister of state for food processing represents the Damoh constituency in the Lok Sabha.
Following the death, Rohit’s family members protested near the hospital where his postmortem was being conducted saying that they would not leave till those named in the suicide note were not investigated. The police then registered an FIR in this case against the accused people.
While interacting with reporters, Patel said that the Damoh police had acted in haste. “My sympathy is with the young man who committed suicide. But those people who frame false cases or get such cases framed to mount pressure should hear it carefully that their plans won’t succeed. I personally feel that the Damoh police took action in haste. I am against the Superintendent of Police and the action. Yashpal (Thakur) is my worker and a responsible public representative. Names of others have also figured in it (complaint). My name is also there, so I should also be charged,” he said.
Patel said that he had asked the police to carry out a detailed investigation “but the police acted in haste without a probe by a handwriting expert. Police should not take such an action. I strongly oppose it.”
The minister said that until justice was meted out, he would not use the services of the Damoh police.
“I will not avail any services of the Damoh police. Today itself, I am giving up their security cover. Except for my private security, no personnel of the Damoh police will be posted at my bungalow or with me,” the minister said.
The Madhya Pradesh government has transferred the case from the local police following the minister’s statement. “The matter has been taken very seriously and orders have been given to transfer the case to CID in Bhopal. It will be investigated, the guilty will not be spared,” state Home Minister Narottam Mishra said.
A father of two, Rohit had been running the ration shop at Dharampura ward for over a decade. “He spoke to us recently telling us that he was very depressed over the affairs at the ration shop. He accused the local leaders of trying to take away his ration shop. They were not allowing him to work. But we never thought he would take such an extreme step,” Ranjeet, his cousin, told The Indian Express.
When Thakur was contacted, he said that he “was not connected to the incident” and called for an impartial investigation.
“The women from the area had complained that they had to travel 2 kilometres to his ration shop where there were no seating arrangements or toilets for women. So I proposed that they take ration from a store near their area. I have nothing to do with this,” Thakur told The Indian Express.
When Taikwar was contacted he denied being involved in the incident. “The deceased was not able to give ration to the public because he was in debt. I am not involved in this. I am ready to hand over my call detail records to the investigators,” Taikwar asserted.
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