RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Jan.14: Repeated cases of mob lynching in Simdega attracted the attention of union tribal affairs minister Arjun Munda, who taking a serious note of the incident today went to meet the victim Jhario Devi, who is undergoing treatment of her burn injuries at Dev Kamal Hospital in the Jharkhand capital.
Munda stayed in the hospital for an hour and collected all necessary information regarding the incident from Birendra, who is the son of victim Jhario Devi.
Later, he commented that ‘such heinous crimes are committed only when the administration does not act.’ He asked police officials to ensure proper action in the matter. Earlier he requested hospital chief Dr Anant Sinha to ensure care to the victim.
The second case of mob lynching within 10 days surfaced in Simdega on Thursday after a mob set an elderly lady, Jahrio Devi, on fire after branding her a witch. The incident took place at Kurpani under Thethaitangar police station area. Devi sustained severe burn injuries and was admitted to local Sadar Hospital, from where she was referred to Dev Kamal for specialized treatment.
Police arrested five persons in this connection. Those arrested included Florence Dungdung, Silbias Dungdung, Ravi Soreng, Hemant Tete and Jyoti Tete.
The incident took place when the lady had gone to participate in a post-death feast. Florence called Devi and attempted to set her on fire with the help of 8 to 10 present there to support. The man assaulted the lady and laid her on a straw dump before pouring kerosene to char her.
Her old husband raised the alarm and some of the villagers rushed for rescue. However, before the lady could be rescued, she sustained severe burn injuries.
Earlier on January 4, one Sanju Pradhan was burnt alive at Kolebira in the presence of his wife and other family members. Branding him a timber thief, a mob of 500 villagers first assaulted him and then set on fire.
Ironically, none of the human rights organizations have taken cognisance of this matter unlike other incidents of human right violations in the state.
