VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, June 17: A Division bench comprising Chief Justice Dr. Ravi Ranjan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad of the Jharkhand High Court on Friday heard the PIL related to sectarian violence in Ranchi on June 10. The court has listed this matter for further hearing next Friday.
The petitioner Pankaj Yadav demanded the NIA investigation into the entire incident. During the hearing, the court said that it was not inclined to decide whether the posters of the riot suspects should be displayed in public places or not.
The court sought a reply from the Jharkhand government to explain how around 10,000 people assembled at a public place. The court sought to know the number of people who died in the incident and the rounds of bullets fired by the police other than the number of persons injured.
The Chief Justice also asked whether or not other measures like tear gas and water cannon were used by the police before resorting to firing. The state government has been asked to submit a report of the entire incident as well as an intelligence report. The court asked what other preparations were made by the police to control the law and order.
The court listed the PIL for urgent hearing following the request of the petitioner. Two persons died when the police opened fire in self-defense when the frenzied mob attacked police as well as religious places.