Relatives of the priest, who was burned alive in a Rajasthan village, have refused to perform his last rites, demanding compensation of Rs 50 lakh and a government job.
“We will not perform the last rites of the body until our demands are met. We want compensation of Rs 50 lakhs and a government job. All defendants must be arrested and action taken against Patwari and the police supporting the defendant. We want protection, ”Lalit, one of the relatives of priest Babulal Vaishnav, told the ANI news agency.
Vaishnav’s hut in Bukna village was set on fire Wednesday after he detained five men seeking to invade lands that were part of the temple where he worked as a priest. In his death testimony, Vaishnav named six people, police said.
The priest died during burn treatment at Jaipur SMS Hospital on Thursday.
The congressional-led government in Rajasthan has come under severe criticism for this incident. BJP leaders Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Vasundhara Raje said on Friday that no one is safe under the current administration. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar has called on Rahul Gandhi to help solve the rising crime rates in Rajasthan instead of spending time on “political tourism” in BJP-ruled states.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the culprits will not be spared. “The murder of Babulal Vaishnav in Sapotara, Karauli, is extremely regrettable and reprehensible; civil society has no place for such acts. The state government is with the grieving family at this sad time. The main defendant has been arrested and the action continues. The guilty will not be saved, ”he tweeted.
The chairman of the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Satish Poonia, announced the formation of a three-member inquiry committee.
.
