A 17-year-old Rupesh Pandey was murdered by an Islamist mob during the Saraswati Visarjan in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. However, instead of any visible action against the culprits, the state government has filed a FIR against Hindu groups protesting and demanding justice.
Thousands, including members of the BJP, BJYM, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Vishwas Hindu Parishad have been protesting against the brutal killing of the Hindu boy. Youth in Chatra took out a candle march on February 10.
But the Police have charged a few of these protestors under Section 147 (nuisance) and Section 188 (violation of pandemic instructions) of IPC, along with a few other sections.
“The protest was not at all violent and hence the Police was also silent during the march. But the next day we were informed that an FIR has been registered”, said a BJYM leader Suman Saurav to OpIndia.
The protestors have been demanding a government job and compensation of Rs 50 aches to the family of Rupesh Pandey.
Rupesh Pandey was a college-going student and working part-time in a mobile shop. He was the lone bread-earner for his family.
Earlier, Rupesh’s mother had demanded justice for her minor son’s brutal murder. “Either hang the culprits or give them to me. I will kill them.”
As per the report filed by Rupesh’s uncle, the minor boy was in the mobile shop on February 5. Some of his friends had invited him to the Saraswati Puja. But out of nowhere, a Muslim crowd led by one Aslam Ansari began beating Pandey. The crowd also had Muslim women.
The initial report filed by Anil Kumar Pandey, Rupesh’s uncle narrates the exact episode of Rupesh’s murder. According to the report, Rupesh was sitting in the mobile shop at around 5 pm on February 5. Some of his friends invited him to the Saraswati puja. Suddenly the Muslim crowd led by Aslam Ansari alias Pappu Miya approached Pandey and started beating him.
He later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
