The DGP, accompanied by senior police officials, heard the family’s concerns over the safety of surviving relatives and said arrangements would be made to protect women and children as the household no longer has any adult male members. Lucknow: DGP Rajeev Krishna on Friday visited the residence of the victims of the Saadatganj triple murder, met the bereaved Tiwari family and assured them of security, a speedy trial and strict action against those found guilty.
Krishna told the family that police would pursue the case in a fast-track court to ensure an expeditious trial and said investigators would make every effort to secure stringent punishment in accordance with law. During the meeting, Usha Tiwari demanded an “encounter” of Rajesh Shukla alias Tunnu and Ravindra Shukla, and sought the death penalty for Rishabh Shukla. Neeraj Shukla, brother-in-law of deceased Shivaji Tiwari and maternal uncle of Suyash Tiwari, said the victims were “simple, decent people” and that there was no longstanding feud.
The visit came four days after three members of the Tiwari family were shot dead in broad daylight in Brahmani Tola locality of Naubasta, under Saadatganj police station limits, following a dispute with neighbours over parking and the use of vacant land near a banyan tree. Family members reiterated that they feared further attacks and pressed for prompt arrests of those still at large. He described the trigger as a minor disagreement over the construction of a platform (chabutra) being undertaken by the municipal corporation at the initiative of the local councillor. Neeraj Shukla maintained that Shivaji Tiwari had no direct involvement in the construction and was unnecessarily drawn into the dispute.
The outreach by senior officers assumed significance amid allegations by the victims’ relatives and local residents that the accused had been repeatedly harassing the family and that earlier complaints to local police did not receive adequate attention. Alleging the attack was carried out deceitfully and wiped out the family’s male members, he demanded the strictest punishment and immediate arrest of the absconding accused, claiming one of them had earlier been externed from the district.