RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Feb.5: Six years after Binay Mahto, a resident of Chandi Ghasi, was brutally murdered in his Sapphire International School campus, it remained a mystery so far who killed the boy and why.
Though initially a four-member teacher family including two adults and two minors were caught in this connection and it was said that the boy, who was in class VII only at the time of his death, was killed for being in love with a minor girl, a class V student of the same school, so far none of them were convicted and awarded sentence.
Boy’s father Manbahal Mahto offering tribute to the departed soul shared his grief with Lagatar 24.com saying he was still waiting for justice.
“I was told that my son was killed for having affairs with a class V girl against the will of the girl’s parents and elder brother, who was a class XI student of the same school. But so far none of them has been punished. All are out and enjoying freedom. During the trial, the court made as many as 10 more accused but they are also away from the grip of the long hand of laws. The matter related to my son’s murder is pending before the civil court, juvenile justice board, and the high court,” Mahto said.
“I have filed a petition before the high court demanding a fair probe into the matter after I observed that the investigation of police is too weak to ensure justice to my son. But in the high court, the matter is pending for more than three years. Many judges heard the case but an order for proper investigation is yet to come,” Mahto said.
As people in the state capital were celebrating Saraswati Puja, family members of Binay were remembering the boy killed in his school campus where he was staying for real worship of the goddess of knowledge.
Mother Kashila Devi remembered the childhood of the boy with tearful eyes as other members listened to her. She told this correspondent that she had never expected such a situation to come in her life and expressed her full faith in the judicial system of the country.
“I had sent my son to school for quality education as we are not educated enough. He was doing well and had won many medals but before he could reach class VIII we received his dead body. It was like a lightning strike on me. I broke down and withdrew my two other sons studying in the same school and now waiting for justice. I have full faith in the judicial system. Justice can be delayed but not denied,” Devi said.
Mahto remembered his last meeting with his son. “Last time I met my son live with boiled eggs at Nakshatra Van near Raj Bhawan on January 31, 2016 when he had come for a picnic with his school team. I had never thought that it was my last meeting with him, I still remember the day and cry thinking why I could not take him with me that day,” said Mahto, sharing his grief.
In the intervening night of February 4 and 5 (officially February 5), 2016 Binay was murdered in the school campus when preparation was on the campus for the annual day celebration. Coincidentally when he was being brutally beaten to death at a teacher’s hostel, dogs kept for the security of the school campus were tied and guards were not at their place of deputation.
Apart from this, all the teachers of the hostel were sleeping and instead of a CCTV camera only an android phone was operational at the place of occurrence. None of the CCTV cameras could catch the boy going to the teacher’s hostel from the student’s hostel though the distance between the two hostels is not less than 800m.
