In a long-awaited verdict, a court has convicted ten individuals for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in the case of the brutal lynching of 22-year-old Tabrez Ansari in Jharkhand.
The incident occurred on June 18, 2019, in Dhatkidih Village of Saraikela Kharsawan, where Ansari, a laborer and welder working in Pune, had returned to his hometown to celebrate Eid.
Ansari was mercilessly assaulted by a group of people who accused him of theft and forced him to chant the slogan, “Jai Sri Ram.” The police arrived at the scene around 6 am and took Ansari into custody. Based on his alleged confession to the theft, he was charged under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Tragically, on June 22, while Ansari was in judicial custody, he complained of nausea, vomiting, and chest pain. As his condition deteriorated and he lost consciousness, he was immediately rushed to Sadar Hospital and subsequently transferred to Tata Main Hospital in Jamshedpur. However, doctors at the hospital declared him dead on arrival.
After an extensive trial, the court has now pronounced ten individuals guilty under IPC Section 304, which pertains to culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The convicted persons are Prakash Mandal alias Pappu Mandal, Bhim Singh Munda, Kamal Mahato, Madan Nayak, Atul Mahali, Sunamo Pradhan, Vikram Mandal, Chamu Nayak, Prem Chand Mahali, and Mahesh Mahali. The court will announce the sentences in July.
The activists working to get justice say that it is crucial to acknowledge the challenging circumstances faced by oppressed Muslims seeking justice, as communal forces have created a hostile environment that allegedly obstructs their pursuit of legal remedies. The families of victims often endure financial hardships, with the loss of the breadwinner plunging them into poverty and affecting the education of their children.
In response to such circumstances, Siasat Daily, under the guidance of Editor Zahid Ali Khan, has consistently been at the forefront of supporting oppressed individuals. A special campaign was launched to assist the families of victims, with appeals made for Tabrez Ansari’s widow and family on The Siasat Daily and Siasat.com. The efforts of Zahid Ali Khan, Iftikhar Hussain, Secretary of Faiz-e-Aam Trust, and Dr. Maqdoom Mohiuddin, Trustee of Faiz-e-Aam Trust, have garnered support from readers, sympathizers, and the community at large.
