A Akhter
The Killing of two young Muslim cattle traders in Jhabbar village in Jharkhand’s Latehar district last month has created uproar in the Rajya Sabha today with government and opposition benches blaming each other for the incident.
Amid uproar, Sitaram Yechury of the CPIM demanded that House Committee should be constituted and visit the area to ascertain the fact as it is a sensitive issue. He was supported by Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and Sharad Yadav of JD(U). The House witnessed a five-minute adjournment.
Raising the matter during Zero Hour, Ghulam Rasool Balywi of the JD(U) alleged that the state government did not take any action against police.
He said the two belonging to Muslim community were found hanging from a tree. Responding to this Minority Affairs Minister Dr Najma
Heptulla said that she will write to the Chief Minister about the facts.
Members from Congress, Left and JD(U) strongly objected to the Minister’s remarks saying it is a casual reaction and trooped into the well. They said the Centre has not taken note of the incident even after a month.
It may be recalled that two Muslim youths herding buffaloes on their way to a market were beaten up and hanged to death from a tree by suspected cattle-protection vigilantes in Balumath forests in Latehar district, 100km from the Jharkhand capital Ranchi on March 18.
The deceased, Muhammad Mazloom, 35, and Azad Khan alias Ibrahim, 15, were cattle traders and related to each other. Their bodies were strung up with their hands tried behind their backs and their mouths stuffed with cloth.
“The manner of their hanging showed that the assailants were led by extreme hatred,” Latehar SP Anoop Birthary told media.
The incident sparked protests by people in Jhabbar village that turned violent when police tried to take down the bodies.
Local MLA from the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) Prakash Ram claimed that Hindu radicals were behind the killings. Reports said villagers who protested the deaths claimed the victims were targeted as they were cattle traders.
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