Jamshedpur: Police on Monday arrested four more
people in connection to lynching of Tabrej Ansari who died in a hospital on
Saturday. The four arrested have been identified as Premchand Mahli, Kamal
Mahto, Bhim Mandal and Sonamu Pradhan. On Sunday the police had arrested Pappu
Mondol related to the case.
The victim was a resident of Kharsawan, Tabrez was caught after stealing a
motorcycle, a purse, a voter I-card and cellphone from Dhatkidih along with two
of his associates. He was nabbed by a group of villagers. The villagers had
also allegedly forced him to chant ‘Jai Sri Ram’ and ‘Jai Bajrangbali.’
Police have formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the lynching.
Several videos of the lynching have gone viral on the social media. In a video,
Tabrez was heard chanting �Jai Sriram and Jai Hanuman� as directed by the mob.
Seraikela-Kharsawan superintendent of police, Karthik S said they have set up a
three-member high-level team comprised of SDO, Seraikela, SDPO, Headquarters
and civil surgeon.
“We are investigating the incident. We have so far arrested five persons
in connection to the case, but have at the same time set up a high-level team
to probe the entire matter meticulously,” said Karthik. He said they have
suspended the OC, Seraikela thana Chandra Mohan Oraon and OC, Sini thana
outpost, Bipin Kumar, adding that more will be booked soon.
While the incident of lynching of Tabrez following the forcible chanting by him
“Jai Sri Ram”, “Jai Bajranwali” by the assailants evoked
strong reaction, the locals of the Dhatkidih village come out with a different
version.
” As per our understanding Tabrez died at the hospital four days after he
was thrashed up by people at Dhatkidih, but the thrashing was no so intense
that he would have died,” said a local resident.
During the probe it was found that Tabrez and two of his associates, Noomar Ali
(19) and Seikh Irfan (18) had first committed a theft at the house of Rajesh
Pramanik at Mahalimurup and Fulchand Pradhan at Murup villages, before
committing theft at Sagar Pradhan, also in Murup.
After theft at the three houses, the trip had climbed on the
roof top of Bishnu Pradhan’s house at Dhatkidih, but incidentally as Pradhan’s
son was awake on the roof top, he raised an alarm, leading the three to flee.
While the people were searching for the thieves here and there, Tabrez kept on
hiding in the bush and could be traced two women who had gone there to respond
nature’s call at about 1 am. It was after the women found Tabrez there,
they raised an alarm and made the villagers to catch hold of Tabrez.
