Lucknow (IANS): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday announced an ex-gratia of Rs.30 lakh [Rs.3 million] to the family of murdered journalist Jagendra Singh, an official said.

The announcement came as the family met the chief minister here and narrated last week’s killing that has evoked outrage.

Before dying, the journalist alleged that Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Backward Welfare Ram Murti Verma had ordered his killing and let loose his henchmen on him in Shahjahanpur, 175 km from Lucknow.

An FIR has been registered against the minister. Five policemen have been suspended but no follow up action has been undertaken, the family alleged.

The family staged a sit-in for a week, demanding the arrest of the minister and accused policemen as well as a CBI probe into the matter.

An official told IANS that the chief minister assured the family that the deceased journalist’s son would be given a government job and the problems raised by the family would be attended to.

In the past, Samajwadi Party leaders have defended the minister, saying he could not be sacked merely because he was named in the FIR.