BJP MLA To Pay Legal Fees Of The Four Accused Of Lynching Two Men

Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) MLA from Godda, Jharkhand, Nishikant Dubey has announced to pay the legal fees of the four men accused in the lynching of two Muslim men on suspicion of cattle theft, terming it his “personal decision.”

The Hindustan Times quoted him as saying, “A poor person has the constitutional right to get free legal assistance. The state must provide such person free legal aid. Since I am the public representative of this area, I conceded to their request to help them out.”

He added, “The families of the arrested accused approached me seeking legal assistance for them. They are poor villagers and could not bear the expenses.”

Dubey also talked to NDTV, questioning the selective targeting of only four people, where a mob of 100 was involved. He said, “The entire village was involved in the beating. Why are these four people being singled out just because their cattle were stolen?”

The incident

Last week, a gang of five men had allegedly entered the Dullu village and stole 13 buffaloes. Munshi Murmu, along with others, chased the group of five men, who were finally caught with the cattle in an adjoining village named Bankati.

Murtaza Ansari, and Sirajuddin Ansari were caught and tied to a bamboo pole and beaten to death. The other three managed to flee, said the police.

An unsettling and chilling video of the lynching was also shared widely on social media. The video shows a man half conscious, being tied to a bamboo stick and dragged. The mob is seen hurling abuses and even laughing at his condition. The two men lived in Taljhari, which is 200 kms from Ranchi, the police informed.

Two First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed, while four men namely, Munsi Murmu, Kameshwar Soren, Kishan Rai and BhukulKishku have already been arrested. Police are now looking for the other accused, Superintendent of Police, Ranjiv Ranjan told the reporters.

The first FIR was registered by one of the arrested persons, Munsi Murmu, against those killed and others for theft, while the second was lodged on the complaint of Imran Ansari, father of one of the victims, SP Ranjan further said.

The Logical Indian Take

Unnao, Kathua, and now Godda, the behaviour of people’s elected representatives has not been worthy of their positions. Although MLA Dubey has justified it as his “personal decision,” that has not stopped him from politicising the brutal lynching of two men. Moreover, this kind of support from MP/MLAs is nothing but adding fuel to the fire of hatred and polarisation now prevalent in the country.