Jharkhand mob violence: 3 arrested; victim’s family demands compensation

NEW DELHI: Jharkhand Police have arrested three people and have launched a manhunt to nab the others involved in the death of 24-year-old Tabrej Ansari, alias Sonu, who was allegedly lynched by a mob on suspicion of theft and was forced to chant “Jai Shri Ram and Jai Hanuman”.

The three arrested include the main accused Pappu Mandal who has been charged with murder, inciting communal hatred and encouraging a mob to attack Ansari.

The incident took place on the intervening night of June 17-18 when villagers in Dhatkidih area under Saraikela police station caught hold of Ansari on suspicion of him being a motorcycle thief. A video footage that has since gone viral shows the villagers allegedly assaulting him after tying him to an electric pole. He was then handed over to the police.

In her complaint to the police, Ansari’s wife Shaista Parveen, claimed that her husband was returning from Jamshedpur when he was stopped by Pappu and 100 others for interrogation in connection with a theft.

“We’ve taken this case very seriously. We’ve arrested 3 people already and are looking for others. Internal inquiry is underway to probe the charge of negligence by police. Action will be taken. A probe is being done at the district collector level,” the SP of Saraikela Kharsawan said.

The family has demanded compensation and a government job for the wife of the deceased.
The family also demanded that the perpetrators be tried under Section 302 (Punishment for murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Meanwhile, Jharkhand minister CP Singh said that it was wrong to politicise such incidents and the state government will conduct an investigation into the matter.

“The trend prevalent these days is to associate such incidents with BJP, RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal. It’s a time of cut and paste, who fits what words where is difficult to say. The government will conduct an investigation. The trend to politicise such incidents are wrong,” Singh told news agency ANI.

The minister’s comments came after AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi alleged that BJP and RSS have increased a sense of hatred against Muslims, saying they created a mindset where the minority community are looked down upon.
“Incidents of mob lynching are not going to stop because BJP and RSS have increased a sense of hatred against Muslims. They have successfully created a mindset where Muslims are seen as terrorists, anti-nationals and cow slaughters,” Owaisi said earlier in the day.