Congress demands probe into suicide by freedom fighter's family

Hardwar, May 29 (UNI) Uttarakhand Congress Committee President Harish Rawat expressed grief on the suicide by two family members of veteran freedom fighter, Ratan Singh, who were on a fast unto death, and demanded a high level probe into the incident.

The late Ratan Singh's son Dharam Pal and his wife Yogita of Hardwar district, committed suicide by consuming poison in front of the district magistrate's office three days ago. They had been on a fast unto death, demanding facilities, including employment, since May 21 and had warned the district administration that if their demands were not met, they would commit suicide.

Mr Rawat, who was addressing mediapersons here last evening, tendered an apology to the members of the bereaved family and demanded that the state government should also do the same.

He alleged it was a glaring example of the insensitivity of the state and the district administration and said had some of the demands of the deceased had been met, the tragic incident could have been averted.

''We owe the freedom of the country to our freedom fighters. If the family members of these freedom fighters are driven to commit suicide, it is most shameful for the entire society'', he said.

Terming the state government's decision to conduct a magisterial enquiry into the incident as 'just a formality', Mr Rawat demanded a high level probe, at least by the divisional commissioner, into the incident which has ''brought discredit to the entire state.'' UNI