Cong demands judicial inquiry into J'khand lynching incidents

The Congress today demanded a judicial inquiry into the incidents of lynching that had claimed nine lives in Kolhan region of Jharkhand since May 10 last.

Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC) president Sukhdeo Bhagat, MLA, also expressed dissatisfaction over the ongoing investigating by the state police.

"The people of the state have lost faith in the government, which miserably failed to act despite a rumour of child lifting doing the rounds since May 10 last, that ultimately claimed nine lives in Kolhan region comprising East and West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharswan districts," Bhagat told a press conference.

Bhagat who yesterday met the family members of three persons who were lynched on suspicion of being child lifters at Nagadih in East Singhbhum district on May 18 last, demanded a judicial inquiry into the lynching incidents to "expose the reason" that led to the killing of "innocent persons".

The JPCC president claimed that the incidents were pre-planned and had taken place under the patronage of the government .

"The Nagadih incident was a blot on the face of the society as it had taken place in the home town of the Chief Minister Raghubar Das and state minister Saryu Roy", Bhagat said while regretting that the chief minister did not have the time to visit the victims' families as yet.

Attributing administrative failure as the cause for the lynching incidents, Bhagat said Jharkhand Police Association has claimed that it had apprised the senior officials of the child lifting rumour but no action had been taken, till several lives were lost.