By Muslim Mirror Special Correspondent,
Ranchi: The mob lynching and brutal attack on Muslims Jharkhand by self-claimed ‘Gau Rakshaks’ (cow vigilantes) has been increasing for the past two years. As many as eight people have been lynched to death in the past three months in the state, which is being governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This happened hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that “killing people in the name of cow protection is not acceptable”.
Alimuddin Ansari alias Asghar Ali was beaten to death in Ramgarh on June 29 for allegedly carrying beef in a vehicle. On June 28, Usman Ansari was thrashed by a 200-strong mob and his house was set on fire in Giridih after a cow carcass was found outside his house.
At least six cattle traders – all of them were Muslims – were beaten to death in a village near Jamshedpur by a mob amid rumours of child trafficking gangs in May this year.
After these incidents, Hisabi Rai, a local BJP leader from Pakur district, allegedly circulated a WhatsApp message suggesting that “what happened in Ramgarh and Giridih should also be repeated in Pakur. The police and the new SP are our people. We will make the Muslims silent with the help of the police”.
A complaint was filed against Rai by Popular Front of India (PFI) for circulating the hate message in Pakur town police station on June 30 but neither he was arrested nor interrogated. Instead, the SP gave him clean chit arguing that his name was “misused”.
Ironically, when people hit roads as massive protest on July 5, they were lathi charged and “false cases” were filed against them under different sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Majority of them are PFI members. Sixty-three people were arrested.
After 30 hours of custody, alleged torture and harassment, 43 were remanded and lodged in Pakur jail. Rest 23 members were let off but a case under section 107 Cr.Pc. (breaching peace or disturbing public tranquillity). Since it is bailable, they are released.
The rest 43 people were also granted bail on July 25.