ST panel sends notice to J’khand DGP in Gumla lynching case
On April 10, Prakash Lakra (50), Peter Kerketta (50), Belarius Tirkey (60) and Janerius Minj (35) of Jurmu village were lynched by group of over 30 people.
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has issued a notice to Jharkhand’s director general of police (DGP) D K Pandey and Gumla superintendent of police (SP) Anjani Kumar Jha, seeking information about action taken in the Gumla lynching case.
On April 10, Prakash Lakra (50), Peter Kerketta (50), Belarius Tirkey (60) and Janerius Minj (35) of Jurmu village were lynched by group of over 30 people from another community of neighbouring Jairagi village for cutting the flesh off a dead ox. Lakra succumbed to his injuries while the other three were severely injured.
Police had registered two FIRs in the matter. The first was under the state’s Bovine Animal Prohibition of Slaughter Act, 2005, against the deceased and three injured, besides unnamed others.
The second FIR was registered on the basis of the statements of the victims against seven named accused and several others under several provisions of the IPC, including murder, attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace and rioting.
However, social organisations in the state under the umbrella of Jharkhand Janadhikhar Mahasabha, had accused the police of registering an incorrect FIR.
It had petitioned the commission, seeking a thorough probe in the incident and demanded adequate compensation for the families of the deceased and the injured.
The petition also sought immunity for family members of the victims from being prosecuted.
The commission, in a recent letter, said that it had decided to investigate/inquire the matter as per the powers conferred upon it by the relevant provision of the Indian constitution. It asked the state DGP and Gumla SP to “submit the facts and information on the action taken on the allegations/matters…within 15 days of receipt of the notice…”
The letter said that if the commission did not receive a reply within 15 days, it would issue summons for the DGP and SP’s appearance in person, or by a representative.
The Gumla SP confirmed that he had received the commission’s letter. He said that a special investigating team was conducting a probe. “Till now two accused have been arrested, while two others have surrendered. We are conducting a comprehensive probe.”