Controversial Uttar Pradesh politician Raja Bhaiya. (PTI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was confronted by an angry crowd today as he reached slain Deputy Superintendent of Police Zia Ul Haq's village to meet his family. The mob shouted slogans against the Chief Minister and his government.
After meeting the family, Mr Yadav said, "Everyone named in the FIR will be arrested. The state government will refer the case to the CBI." he also announced a compensation of Rs 50 lakh and government job to two members of the family.
Mr Haq was shot dead in Pratapgarh, about 100 kilometres from the state capital of Lucknow, on Saturday after he arrived to investigate violence followed by the killing of a village head. He was confronted by an angry mob and shot in his chest and head; he died immediately.
The head of a village had been shot over a land dispute.
Raja Bhaiya, a politician with a lengthy criminal record, has resigned as a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government over alleged links to the murder in his constituency of Kunda.
"If I had a problem with him (the policeman), I would have had him transferred, not killed," said Raja Bhaiya, whose real name is Raguraj Pratap Singh.
He has been accused of criminal conspiracy; the four men accused of shooting the police officer on Saturday night are allegedly his associates.
The case against Raja Bhaiya was filed by the policeman's widow, who has accused him of commissioning the murder. She wants the CBI to investigate the case and a crore as compensation for her husband's death. She says her husband was killed for ignoring threats to abandon an investigation into a case of communal violence.
Three policemen have been suspended for abandoning Mr Haq.
The charges against Raja Bhaiya, who was Food and Civil Supplies Minister, have embarrassed Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party (SP), who has repeatedly been accused of reneging on a campaign vow to end lawlessness in the state.
Opposition leader Mayawati says Mr Yadav's government exemplifies "goonda raj" or hooliganism, instructed and practiced by members of the ruling party. Mr Yadav's government completes its first anniversary on March 15.