Five people involved in the lynching of a Muslim youth in Jharkhand have been arrested while two policemen have been suspended.
"Two cops, one Sub Inspector and one Assistant Sub Inspector, have been suspended for dereliction of duty. Five people have been arrested so far," said a Deputy Superintendent of Police to IANS over the phone, asking not to be named.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das has been upset with the incident.
Shams Tabrez Ansari (24), accused of stealing a motorcycle was caught by a mob on 18 June, tied to a pole and was beaten for several hours. pic.twitter.com/LvkQuV0ImD
— Khalid Mahmood Khalid (@samaylive) June 24, 2019
Seraikela Superintendent of Police S. Kartik is himself looking into the case to ensure all the accused are arrested.
Pappu Mandal, the main accused in the lynching of the Muslim youth was arrested first. Later based on his interrogation others were arrested.
This is the pattern with almost all lynchings. First, a Muslim is murdered by cow lovers. Then the most ridiculous excuses begin: a ‘suspicion’ of beef possession, theft, smuggling & love jihad
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) June 23, 2019
So much for sabka vishwas when we can be killed over mere ‘suspicions’ https://t.co/G8koC1EHc8
Tabrez Ansari, 22, died in a hospital on Sunday, days after he was brutally thrashed by a mob at Dhatkidih village in Seraikela district on suspicion of stealing a bike.
According to the police, a stolen motorcycle and some other items were also recovered from him.
Tabrez Ansari was lynched to death in BJP ruled Jharkhand. A Hindu mob thrashed him ruthlessly because he refused to chant Jai Sri Ram. Is this NDA 2.0’s New India? Yeh kaunsa tareeka hai sabka vishwas jeetnay ka?
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) June 24, 2019
The incident came to light after a video went viral in which Mandal was seen beating Ansari, who was tied to a tree.
Ansari's wife Shaista Parveen lodged an FIR at the Seraikela police station alleging that he was caught by some people while he was on his way back on a bike from Jamshedpur last Monday. He was tied to a tree and beaten up brutally, and also forced to chant "Jai Sri Ram".
According to police sources, initially Ansari tried to save himself by calling himself "Sonu". However, he was forced to reveal his real name after the mob asked him to chant "Jai Sri Ram".
After the thrashing, the mob handed him over to the police, which took him to a police post. However, he had to be admitted to a hospital after his condition worsened and he died at the hospital on Sunday.
Ansari's wife has questioned the role of the police in her husband's death alleging that he was not given timely medical treatment.
Seraikela Superintendent of Police Kartik met Ansari's family and made the arrest based on his wife's FIR. Political parties in the state have condemned the incident.