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Crackdown on graft may have cost UP bureaucrat his life

The busting of a big job racket and rampant corruption in Uttar Pradesh's family welfare department are being seen as key factors in the sensational murder of a top government official in Lucknow on Sunday.

Fifty-four-year-old Bachchi Lal, director general of family welfare, was shot dead from point-blank range at 0600 IST on July 22 in a posh residential area while on his morning walk.

Police investigations have revealed that Lal was responsible for the recent crackdown on a fake employment racket that was thriving in his department in large parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh. The officer had detected 153 cases of fake appointment letters in which his own signature had been forged.

Lal had lodged a number of first information reports in different districts in this connection and investigations were on to pin those involved, including officials from Lal's own department.

Besides, an organised mafia dealing with the supply of family welfare kits and the publication of publicity material, which had been thriving in connivance with top officials of the state's medical and health directorate, found Lal a stumbling block.

"The supplies mafia, which has a stranglehold over crores of rupees worth of contracts, knew full well that they could not have their way with Bachchi Lal," a top bureaucrat told rediff.com

The statement of the slain officer's elder brother, Satya Narain, who is an additional district judge, backs up this claim. "Ever since he had exposed the fake job racket, Bachchi used to receive anonymous calls," Narain said, "warning him to mend his ways or lose his life".

But, the brother maintains, "he did not take these threats seriously because he thought he had no enemies; even back in our home town in Hamirpur district we had the best of relations with everyone and the question of enmity with anyone was ruled out."

The police have drawn a blank in the case so far. Going by eyewitness accounts, two assailants approached Lal from behind. One of them shot him in the back while the other shot him in the temple, just a stone's throw from the heavily guarded state police intelligence headquarters on Gokhale Road.

The sensational murder shocked the state administration. Grave concern was expressed at the worsening law-and-order in the capital with murders, looting and burglary becoming common. At least three sensational killings have been reported from Lucknow's prime areas in the past two months.

The Uttar Pradesh Provincial Medical Services Association observed a day's token strike against the growing lawlessness and increasing insecurity of upright officials.

A few persons from Lal's department have been detained for questioning. His office has also been sealed as valuable evidence could be found in the documents available with Dr Lal.

Lucknow Police Commissioner B B Bakshi said, "We have despatched three separate teams under three officers of the rank of superintendent of police to different places in eastern UP, where the bulk of the fake appointments had been made."

Meanwhile, there has been a sudden drop in the number of bureaucrats going out for morning walks in Lucknow. Officials, who despite being provided protection preferred to be on their own, are now seen only with a gunman in uniform. "I have never approved of taking a security guard around on my morning stroll with my wife. But now my family members do not allow me to go out without a gunman. After all anyone holding some position is bound to have taken some unpleasant decision at some point of time," remarked a top IAS officer.

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