Kanpur: 2 women die amid anti-encroachment drive; 'police set fire to hut' vs 'self-immolation' claims

A storm is brewing in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur after the death of two women during an anti-encroachment drive on 13 February 2023.

Police reportedly said that a 45-year-old woman and her 20-year-old daughter set themselves on fire during a demolition drive in Madauli village in Rura area.

The family of the deceased claims that police set the women's hut on fire even as they were present inside. The deceased were identified as Pramila and Neha Dixit. Police said that SHO Dinesh Gautam and Pramila's husband Gendan Lal suffered injuries while trying to save the duo.

Authorities said that encroachments were being removed from government land, but villagers claimed that they were not given prior notice.

Also Watch: Over 1 lakh daily wage earners died by suicide between 2019-21: govt data