PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, March 7: Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda strongly condemned the custodial death of a 26- year- old youth Shikari Singh Munda at Baghmundi in Purulia district of neighbouring Bengal. The Union minister visited the bereaved family last evening.
The PMO has also ordered an inquiry into the custodial death of the youth.
According to villagers, the excise department took the youth into custody on February 16. Later he was thrashed and sent to the Purulia jail where he succumbed to his injuries on February 20.
The matter got exposed when BJP MP from Purulia Jyotirmoy Singh Munda staged a dharna and demonstration highlighting the custodial death case.
The youth used to work at a liquor manufacturing unit at Charidah village, where he stayed.
Notably, Padma Shri awardee Gambhir Singh Munda hails from the same village.
Describing the incident as unfortunate Munda said the matter has been brought to the notice of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. “I also want that the matter should be investigated and the guilty should be booked,” he said and confirmed that the PMO also took notice of the case.
Munda was accompanied by BJP MP Jyotirmoy Singh Mahto, Habibpur (Malda) legislator Joyal Murmu and other local public representatives.
A strong resentment was prevailing in the village over the custodial death of the youth.
