The Kanpur trader, who died in Gorakhpur, was unable to produce his identification papers to the police during the raid and had fallen down while trying to escape, a senior police official said.
Additional Director General (Law and Order), Prashant Kumar said, “On that night (September 27) following the directions of the Gorakhpur SSP, checking was on in hotels. Manish Gupta could not show his identification. To escape from the police, he ran and fell down. He died while being treated”.
This statement is based on information given by the field team investigating the case.
This version of the police appears to be flawed as no hotels allow guests to check in without showing some form of identification. In fact, hotels also ask for a photocopy of the identity documents. If Gupta was indeed allowed to check in to the hotel without this mandatory step, the hotel would face action.
Meanwhile, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met the wife of the deceased, Meenakshi, in Kanpur on Thursday. She said the CM had agreed to the family’s demands.
“He announced that that a job will be given. He also said the case will be transferred to Kanpur, and a good team will be appointed (for investigation). He had understood the case correctly and has taken the right decision. I am very thankful to him,” she said.
An announcement has been made to appoint her as an officer on special duty in the Kanpur Development Authority.
The CM’s actions have diffused some of the political heat that has emanated from the death.
On Thursday morning, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav met the deceased’s kin and offered them an assistance of Rs 20 lakh — double the amount that the government had offered to the family.
Yadav said as Gupta’s wife was educated, she should be given a class A or B job.
Before the opposition could further criticise the state’s ‘corrupt’/’brutal’ police force, Adityanath launched an attack on police officers involved in “illegal activities.” During the scheduled morning meeting with senior bureaucrats on Thursday, the CM said there was no place in the police department for such people. “A list of such people, with evidence, should be made available. Action should be taken against all under existing rules. Police officers/personnel involved in grave crimes should be removed. Those who have a dubious reputation should not be posted in the field on important posts,” the CM said.