VIJAY DEO JHA
The Hemant Soren government has said that between 2016 and 2021 a total of 46 cases of mob lynching took place in Jharkhand and 51 accused were convicted to life imprisonment in 11 cases where the trial was completed.
But the government denied that the murder of Rupesh Pandey at Barhi in Hazaribagh was a case of mob lynching. The government informed the House during the budget session of the assembly on Monday when Binod Kumar Singh of the CPI (ML) raised questions related to the mob lynching.
Binod Kumar Singh claimed that a total of 58 cases of mob lynching was reported in Jharkhand and alleged that no proper compensation was given to the family of the victim.
He said that in December last year, Sunil Pasi (35) was beaten to death by villagers in Khetko under Bagodar police station area of Giridih. He was accused as a cattle thief. He said that no compensation was given to the family.
Replying to the question, Rural Development minister Alamgir Alam said that so far Rs 19.90 Lakh has been given to the family of several victims. He said that initially Rs. three lakh is given as compensation. The minister informed a three-member committee of the district judge, deputy commissioner, and superintendent of police of the concerned district.
Minister informed that for the speedy trial of these cases, the government was considering constituting fast-track courts.
As the Hemant Soren government has enacted a law against mob lynching with a provision for compensation, MLA Pradeep Yadav asked the government to clarify whether compensation can be given in such cases which took place before enactment of the law.
