2 shot dead in Uttar Pradesh

61-yr-old is in critical condition at hospital

Reportedly hurt over transfer of an ‘honest’ official, an old social worker consumed poison. He is now fighting for his life at a hospital.

Sixty-one-year-old Shivji Tewari, a resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district, about 400 kilometres from here, consumed some poisonous substance at the residence of the district magistrate S N Srivastava on Friday after lamenting latter’s transfer to some other place.

Displeasure

Tewari was rushed to the district hospital where his condition was stated to be serious. According to reports, Tewari visited the district magistrate and conveyed his serious displeasure over his transfer.

“I am very much pained by your transfer. The politicians cannot allow honest officials to function. It is a sad news for the people of the district. I am the most saddened one and I can prove this,” Tewari reportedly told Srivastava in the presence of several other officials.

He then took out a small bottle which had some poisonous substance from his pocket and consumed it before the stunned officials.

A shocked district magistrate immediately made arrangements to take Tewari to hospital.

Administrative process

Srivastava later said his transfer was an administrative process and asked the people of the district to have patience. “My successor may be more honest and capable than me,” he said.

The district unit of the Aam Admi Party (AAP) also sharply condemned his transfer and demanded that it be cancelled forthwith.

“The transfer has been effected under political pressure. The ruling party leaders had problems with the honest official and therefore they got him shunted out,” AAP leader Mohammad Azam said.