Krishnanand Rai cremated

Gorakhpur, June 8 (UNI) Krishnanand Rai, the constable whose murder case led to the resignation of Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Fisheries Jamuna Nishad, was consigned to flames with full state honours in his native Mau district today.

After a post-mortem, Rai's funeral was held in the presence of senior police and administrative officials in Dohri ghat at village Kaneel.

Soon after the cremation, the Bhumihar community blocked a road and warned the state government and administration of a massive agitation, if the murder accused were not arrested by 1100 hrs tomorrow.

''If the killers are not apprehended within the deadline, our community will take to the streets and its responsibilty will fall on both the state government and the administration,'' members of the community said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati called a press conference this afternoon and ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.

Ms Mayawati also announced an ex gratia of Rs 24 lakh to the bereaved family, besides a fixed deposit of Rs five lakh each in the name of two daughters of the policeman. ''If required, a government job will also be provided to one of the family members,'' she added.

Earlier in the morning, the opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress workers had staged a sit-in outside the Kotwali police station of Mharajganj district.

Senior Congress leader Harshvardhan and SP leader Janardan Ojha had also condemned the incident and demanded the arrest of the minister and his supporters.

UNI JAS MB RR KN1830