Slain IPS officer’s family suspects conspiracy, accuses police of inaction

Even as an outraged nation condemned the murder of IPS officer Narendra Kumar in Morena district, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan ordered a judicial probe into the ghastly incident.

The 2009-batch IPS officer was crushed under the wheels of a tractor-trolley driven by an alleged member of mining mafia at Banmore in Morena district on March 8 when he tried to stop the vehicle carrying stones. Kumar was posted at Banmore as Sub Divisional Officer of Police a month ago and was to join his IAS wife from tomorrow.

The driver identified as Manoj Gurjar has been arrested and a case registered under section 302 (murder) of the IPC. The slain officer's father has alleged a "well-planned conspiracy" against his son, saying local police did not cooperate with him in the drive against mining mafia.

"For a few days he (Narendra Kumar) was telling me that he was acting against illegal mining mafia and had seized several vehicles but they got released," Keshav Dev told reporters in Gwalior.

"My daughter-in-law also had a heated argument with BJP MLA Mohan Sharma, who regularly threatened both my son and daughter-in-law. She had been transferred 15 days ago. The government officials hid his murder information from me and said he died in an accident," Keshav Dev added.

The argument between martyr officer's IAS wife and the MLA had been brought to chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's notice.
Reacting on the allegation, legislator Mohan Sharma said transfer is a normal process. But yes he had complained to the chief minister that she had ill-treated him.

Home minister Uma Shankar Gupta refuted Keshav Dev's allegations, saying there were no reports of vehicles seized for illegal mining activities being released.

"Because he has lost a young son, his mental balance has been affected. We will talk to him later," Gupta said.

The state police said the killing was a case of murder but it did not appear ‘preplanned’ at this stage. “Till now, we do not have any evidence to indicate that the killing of Narendra Kumar Singh was a planned act,” Chambal range's DIG D P Gupta told reporters in Gwalior

Kumar was cremated at his native village, about 50 km from Mathura, with full state honours. His wife Madhurani Tewari, an IAS officer posted in Gwalior and currently on maternity leave, lit the funeral pyre. "We salute the young IPS officer for his daredevilry in checking illegal mining. We have ordered a judicial probe into the incident," Chief Minister Chouhan told reporters.