Guwahati: The police reported on Tuesday that a 44-year-old mother and her daughter perished when a fire broke out at Marauli hamlet in the Kanpur Dehat region during an anti-encroachment sweep.
The deceased have been identified as Pramila Dixit (44) and her daughter, Neha Dixit (22).
The victims’ family said that while the mother and daughter were inside, the house was set on fire by individuals involved in carrying out the drive.
A case has been filed based on the claims against a number of individuals, including Lekhpal, the station officer, and the sub divisional magistrate (SDM).
Information indicates that the incident happened on Monday afternoon in the Marauli village during a district administration team’s demolition operation against “illegal encroachment.”
The family members allegedly threatened to put themselves on fire in order to hinder the removal drive and protested against it.
This resulted in a fight between the family and the authorities, and amid the commotion the house caught fire and was completely destroyed.
The fire, whose precise origin was unknown, started when there were four individuals inside the home.
“Two of them were killed, while others sustained burn injuries,” officials said.
Although the cause of the fire was not immediately apparent, the victim’s relatives claimed local authorities and anti-social residents set their home on fire on purpose.
“Ashok Dixit, Anil Dixit and other accused along with SDM, SHO and Lekhpal set the house on fire. My mother and sister were killed in the fire, only I and my father were able to come out. Every officer is involved in this,” Shivam Dixit, the victim’s son alleged.
According to Kanpur Police, more than 12 people, including SDM, SO, and Lekhpal, have cases filed against them as a result of the victims’ family’s complaint.
Four locals, identified as Ashok Dixit, Anil Dixit, Nirmal Dixit, and Vishal Dixit have also been named in the FIR.
“There was a complaint lodged against Vishal Dixit (one of the accused named in the FIR) that he was trying to encroach upon the land belonging to village community. In connection with this, the administrative team reached the area to remove encroachment where the incident occured,” the police said.
A case under IPC sections 302, 307, 429, 436, 323 and 34 has been filed against the accused based on Shivam Dixit’s (the victim’s son) allegation.
ADG Kanpur Zone Alok Singh told the media, “An official team had gone for the encroachment drive when the unfortunate incident took place. We have started investigating the matter.”
Kanpur Commissioner Raj Shekhar said, “We have initiated a probe by taking the victim family into confidence. We are trying to find out the exact sequence of events. Strict action will be taken against the accused and no one will be spared.”
Further investigation in the case is underway, he added.