1 Lynched, 2 Injured Over Cow-Slaughter Suspicion in Jharkhand

According to the DIG there was no “clarity on the sequence of events” and hence no arrests have been made till now.

Image used for representational purposes only. 

(Photo: The Quint)

After three villagers in Jharkhand’s Khunti district were assaulted by a mob on Sunday, 22 September, on the suspicion of cow slaughter, one of them succumbed to his injuries. The other two have been admitted to a hospital with severe injuries.

Five people have been detained for questioning by the police, PTI reported.

WHAT HAPPENED

Three villagers, identified as Kalantus Barla, Philip Horo and Faagu Kacchap, were spotted around 10 am in Jaltanda Suari village, allegedly carving out meat from a cow’s carcass, according to DIG (Chhotanagpur Range) Homkar Amol Venukant, reported The Indian Express.

Immediately after they were spotted, a mob of villagers started beating them, the report added.

“However, police reached the spot as we got information and rushed them to hospital. Barla sustained grievous injuries and he died before reaching hospital. The other two are said to be stable.”

Homkar Amol Venukant, DIG (Chhotanagpur Range), as quoted by The Indian Express

POLICE DETAIN 5 PEOPLE

Police said five persons have been detained for questioning in connection with the incident, following which villagers gheraoed Karra police station on Sunday demanding their release, reported news agency PTI.

The villagers ended their gherao after Sub-divisional Police Officer Rushabh Jha assured them that the detained persons would be released if they were found innocent.

During inspection of the spot, police did not find any carcass but there was evidence that the persons were beaten up by the mob, Venukant said. However, no arrests have been made so far, he added.

RISE IN THE NUMBER OF SUCH INCIDENTS REPORTED

The number of deaths caused by mob violence in the state of Jharkhand has been on a rise, with at least 21 people having died in the last three years, reported The Indian Express. In the month of September 2019 alone, at least three similar incidents of mob violence was reported across the state.

WHAT IS OPPOSITION SAYING?

Sitaram Yechury, Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s leader has demanded answers from the government alleging that the crimes of such nature are being patronized by the state.

“This is a very dangerous and mob lynchings are continuing without any restrictions on culprits. There is an atmosphere of fear, violence and it is poisonous for our society which the government is clearly patronizing,” he said.

JD(U) National Spokesperson Pavan Verma stated that the country is on the verge of becoming 'an uncivilised nation.'

While speaking to ANI, Verma said, “How many more mob lynching incidents do we need before we realise that we are on verge of becoming an uncivilized nation?”

He further said, “At one level, the Prime Minister speaks at Houston about the remarkable diversity of our land and the tradition of democracy, tolerance and non-violence and on the other hand, we are demonstrating the most primitive, despicable mob violence in the name of cow,” Verma added.

CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat also said that there is no law and order in Jharkhand and it is now known as 'Lynchistan.'

(With Inputs from The Indian Express, ANI and PTI)