Journalist Rajeev Pratap died due to internal injuries in chest, abdomen: Post-mortem report
Uttarkashi (PTI): The postmortem report of an Uttarakhand journalist whose body was recovered from a lake in Uttarkashi district said that he died due to internal injuries to his chest and abdomen, police said on Tuesday. Doctors said such injuries are sustained during accidents.
Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police Sarita Doval said the postmortem report did not reveal any signs of assault on the journalist's body.
Rajeev Pratap was missing since the night of September 18 and his body was recovered from Joshiyara barrage 10 days later on Sunday.
The journalist's family has alleged that he had been receiving threats following some of his news reports. Some journalists' organisations have also demanded a thorough probe into the circumstances of his death.
SP Doval said, "The postmortem report states that he died due to internal injuries to his chest and abdomen. According to doctors, such injuries occur during accidents."
The SP said on the night of September 18, after having dinner with his friend at the Chauhan Hotel at the Uttarkashi bus stand, Pratap left Uttarkashi in his friend's car for Gangori.
When he did not return, his friend informed the police and his family on September 19, she said.
Based on the family's complaint, the police registered a case and launched an intensive search.
Doval said CCTV footage examined during the investigation showed Pratap driving alone at 11:39 pm on September 18, and the next day his car was found about 500 metres away from the location.
She said his slippers were recovered from his car after a search.
The officer said that investigation is still going on in the case and that Pratap's family has also brought forward some information.
Further action will be taken based on the facts that emerge, she added.
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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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