Jharkhand Police Forced to Slap Sec 302 Against Tabrez Ansari Lynching Accused

In a major development in the Tabrez Ansari lynching case, Jharkhand police has filed a supplementary charge sheet against 11 accused and slapped Section 302 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) on Tuesday.

Twenty four-year-old Tabrez Ansari, a newly married man from Saraikela-Kharsawan district, was returning thome on the night of June 17 along with two of his acquaintances, when he was caught by a mob at Dhadhkidih, a few kilometers away from his home, over allegations of bike theft. While two of his acquaintances fled from the spot, the mob tied Tabrez to a pole and beat him mercilessly and also forced to chant Jai Shri Ram by the lynchers. The entire incident was filmed and later circulated on social media.

But when police came, they too did not help Tabrez and took him to the police station. Police just gave first aid to Tabrez and had him sent to jail. Tabrez's family, which had seen the condition of Tabrez and clicked some pictures too (see the picture), had requested the police to take him to a doctor, but  the police did not pay heed to them. On June 22, Tabrez complained of severe pain, he was sent to a hospital by  the jail authorities, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The lynching of Tabrez was even raised at United Nations (UN) and the UNSC had sought a report from the Jharkhand police.

In its press communiqué,  the Saraikela-Kharsawan police mentioned that they had asked for the autopsy report from the board of doctors of AJM Hospital, which concluded, “On the basis of above main findings we opined that— 1- The fracture of bone is grievous injury caused by hard & blunt object, 2- The combined effect of fracture of bon, pale organs and heart chambers full of blood resulting into cardiac arrest.”

Along with other things, the police also claimed that they received the CFL report of the video and it has been confirmed that it is genuine.

Last week, the Saraikela-Kharsawan police had filed a charge sheet and removed Section 302 with Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). After the charge sheet, there was massive outrage from Saraikela-Kharsawan to Ranchi to Delhi.

Tabrez's widow, Shahista Parween, too had demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the heinous crime.

Shahista had later also said that she would commit suicide if she she does not get justice. The victim's side had also prayed to the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) that as police intentionally did not mention video footage in the charge sheet so, the video should be demanded from police.

“Yes, a supplementary charge sheet has been filed against 11 accused in the case,” a senior police officer of Saraikela-Kharsawan told eNewsroom, but requested anonymity.

The 11 accused against whom police had dropped murder charges and again slapped it are—Bhimsen Mandal, Kamal Mahto, Sunamo Pradhan, Premchand Mahto, Sumant Mahto, Madan Nayak, Mahesh Mahli, Kushal Mahli, Satyanarayan Nayak, and Prakash Mandal.

“I am happy that administration is filing supplementary charge sheet. I hope now I will get justice. I do not want anything but justice,” Shahista told eNewsroom.