RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Jan.7: Former chief minister and BJP legislature party chief Babulal Marandi alleged police of being hand in gloves with those involved in the incident of mob lynching that took place on January 4 at Besrajora village under Kolebira police station area of Simdega incident.
The statement came after Marandi accompanied by his party colleague and Ranchi mayor Asha Lakra, Rajya Sabha MP Sameer Oraon and former legislator Gangotri Kujur reached the spot and met family members of victim Sanju Pradhan and collected information regarding the incidents from other villagers and family members.
Demanding a CBI probe into the matter and dismissal of the concerned SP and police officer, Marandi said police want to underplay the case by raising the issue of felling trees from forest which ended in the month of October last year and there was no dispute taking this.
Marandi said the reason behind the lynching of Pradhan, who was married last year, is his attempt to stop illegal and unconstitutional activities in his area. He said people involved in illegal work eliminated Pradhan hatching a conspiracy and thus the matter is required to be probed properly.
The former chief minister said that when the incident was taking place the wife of Pradhan was lamenting before the police to interfere but the latter behaved like a mute spectator suggesting its involvement.
When contacted Kolebira MLA, Naman Vixel Kongari, aware of the incident, for comment on the allegation of BJP leaders he presented a different picture. According to him, Pradhan was an old naxalite from whom villagers were not happy. He said despite having an FIR for felling a tree none was daring to touch Pradhan.
Kongari, however, became tight-lipped when asked how come someone lynched in the state where anti-mob lynching bill was passed from assembly and the government is intended to stop this.
“This is still a mystery for me,” Kongari said.
