Five people have been arrested and two police officers have been suspended for the lynching of 24-year-old Tabrez Ansari in Jharkhand’s Saraikela-Kharsawan, reported NDTV.
On 18 June, Ansari and his friends were returning home from Jamshedpur to Saraikela-Kharsawan when they were accosted by a mob. Ansari was tied to a pole and beaten mercilessly on suspicion of having stolen a motorbike, while his friends managed to escape. He succumbed to his injuries on 22 June.
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In a video of the incident that went viral, Ansari is seen being forced to chant “Jai Shri Ram” and “Jai Hanuman.
A Special Investigation Team has been set up to look into his death. Ansari was declared brought dead to the Tata Main Hospital in Jamshedpur on 22 June, Saturday, police said.
“We have formed an SIT to probe into the matter... and it has already conducted raids in the area on Sunday night,” Superintendent of Police Karthik S said.
Asked about the purported video of the incident, which is being circulated widely on social media and in which a mob is heard forcing Ansari to chant the slogans, Karthik S said a case has been lodged against an accused for inciting “communal sentiments”.
“Papu Mandal has been arrested and an inquiry into the incident is on,” the SP added.
HuffPost India had earlier reported that Tabrez was handed over to the police after being beaten up and was in judicial custody since 18 June.
PTI reported that the recently married Ansari was rushed to the Saraikela Sadar (district) Hospital after he complained of uneasiness on 21 June. On 22 June, he was referred to the Tata Hospital in Jamshedpur, where he was declared brought dead.
His family had demanded justice and asked for compensation from the government.
Ansari’s wife has filed a complaint in which she has named several people, a police officer said.
“The police should have taken him to a hospital, instead of arresting and sending him to jail,” Shaista Praveen said in her complaint.
(With PTI inputs)