Uttar Pradesh Minister Ram Murti Singh Verma has been booked along with five others in connection with the killing of a journalist by allegedly setting him on fire in Shahjahanpur district.

Journalist Jagendra Singh was burnt to death for a Facebook post against Ram Murti. According to reports in CNN IBN, Singh’s family has claimed that a police officer allegedly set him on fire.

Singh had reportedly written about Ram Murti’s involvement in illegal mining and forced occupation of land etc.

“An FIR has been registered against Minister for Backward Classes Welfare Ram Murti Singh Verma, Inspector Sri Prakash Rai, and four others identified as Gufran, Akash Gupta, Amit Pratap Singh, and Bhure for allegedly killing Jagendra Singh by setting him afire,” police said.

he FIR has been lodged under IPC 302 (murder), 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

The FIR was registered at the Puwayan police station on Tuesday afternoon on the basis of a complaint by Jagendra’s son Raghvendra after the journalist died during treatment at a hospital in Lucknow on Monday night, police said.

According to the family members of the deceased, Jagendra had made a Facebook post against the minister regarding his alleged involvement in illegal mining and land grabbing.

The family alleged that during a raid at the journalist’s house at Awas Vikas colony in Sadar Bazar area of Shahjahanpur on June 1, he was set on fire, following which he was taken to a hospital in Lucknow.

Before his death, Jagendra had accused Ram Murti Singh Verma of “unleashing” a reign of terror on him and his family for his investigative reports and comments against the minister.

The journalist had alleged earlier that he sustained burn injuries during a raid by Inspector Sri Prakash Rai at his house.

He reportedly told Inspector General (Civil Defence) Amitabh Thakur two days ago at the civil hospital in Lucknow that he was also attacked on April 28 near his house by the minister’s henchmen but no action was taken in the case.

“He told me he was hounded for exposing the ministers alleged involvement in illegal mining and forced occupation of land,” Mr Thakur confirmed.