Lal Bihari 'Mritak' recommended for Independence day award

Lucknow, July 6 (UNI) Lal Bihari 'Mritak', founder of the 'Mritak Sangh' (association of dead persons), has been recommended by the Uttar Pradesh government for Independence day 'Ashok Chakra' award for his crusade against corruption.

In his letter to the concerned department on July 3, Azamgarh district magistrate Subhash Chandra Sharma recommended the name of 'Mritak' for the award.

Lal Bihari had formed 'Mritak Sangha' in 1980, which fought cases of corruption, where some unscrupulous elements grab one's land by submitting fake death certificate of original owners in nexus with government officials.

'Mritak' has already been conferred with "Ig Nobel" Award of United States of America (USA) in 2003. Following his efforts till date, FIRs have been lodged against 24 persons and departmental action initiated against five government employees.

Altogether, cases of 108 living people declared dead in 31 UP districts have been detected, of which records in 98 cases have been rectified.

In 1976, 'Mritak' was declared dead by a Naib Tehsildar, but after his crusade, it was rectified in 1994.

In Azamgarh district alone, Lal Bihari detected 30 such cases in which people were declared dead in offical records as part of conspiracy by land mafias to grab their property.

Noted Bollywood director Satish Kaushik is producing a feature film on his life. Cinestar Anil Kapoor is likely to play the role of 'Mritak'.

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