RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Oct.6: Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha expressed its concern over the reluctance of Jharkhand police in registration of FIR on the basis of application given by Jiramani Devi, whose husband Brahmadev Singh was shot dead by security personnel engaged in anti-Naxal operation on June 12 this year after he was mistaken as an extremist.
“Even after 100 days, an FIR against security forces for killing Adivasi Bramhdev Singh has not been registered,” a press release issued by the Mahasabha reads.
“On 12 June 2021, security forces, out on a Naxal search campaign, opened fire on innocent Adivasis of Piri village (Garu, Latehar, Jharkhand) during which Bramhadev Singh was shot dead. Adivasis including Bramhadev were going out on a traditional hunting ritual, as every year, for the Sarhul festival. They all carried the single-fire Bhartua gun which is used to hunt small animals and birds like rabbits, pigs and chickens and to protect crops from animals. Even though the villagers did not fire a single shot, raised their hands and shouted that they were common people (and not Maoists), the security forces kept on firing. Instead of booking the perpetrators for the murder of Bramhadev Singh and violence, the local police filed an FIR (Garu P.S. Case No. 24/2021 dated 13/06/21) against the six victims, including dead Bramhadev Singh, under various sections including Arm’s act,” the release further reads.
The release further reads: “The FIR does not mention Bramhadev’s death by the police firing. According to the FIR, this incident was an exchange of fire in which the first shot was fired by a group of armed villagers and some people fled into the forest. The FIR also mentions that the police found Brahmadev’s body at the edge of the forest. These statements are contrary to the facts.”
Bramhadev Singh’s wife Jiramani Devi submitted an application to the local Garu police station on 29 June demanding to file an FIR against the security force personnel, the release reads. “But even after 100 days, it is yet to be filed. The villagers have also sent several appeals to the administration, police, and the Chief Minister himself in this duration,” the release alleges.
The local police gave two excuses for not registering the FIR – 1) the police has already registered an FIR regarding the incident and 2) the case has been transferred to the CID.
On which the tribal organization says, “both reasons do not stand the test of law or logic. The FIR filed by the police does not mention the killing of Bramhadev Singh. Jiramani is demanding an FIR against the killing of her husband. Also, registering two FIRs based on two different aspects of an incident is not uncommon. The right of the victim’s family members to file an FIR does not end if the case has been transferred to the CID. Jiramani Devi has now approached the local court regarding this.”
