Congress seeks fast track trial in lynching of 5 Adivasis in Bihar
· Condemns CM’s complete silence on the incident
· Goonda-raj and Jungle-raj prevailing in Bihar: Bhuria
NEW DELHI : The Congress today demanded time bound trial in a fast-track court against all the accused involved in burning alive five members of an Adivasi family in village Tetgama of Purnia district in Bihar.
The party also condemned the silence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the incident, saying the indifference of the government encourages such crimes and emboldens the criminals.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters after returning from the village, here today, Dr Vikrant Bhuria, Chairman All India Adivasi Congress, revealed that it was a bone-chilling incident that showed how five members of a family were first brutally beaten up. After their limbs were broken, they were set on fire, he said, adding, when one of the victims jumped into the village pond to save himself, he was taken out of the pond using a hook and was sprinkled with petrol and set on fire again.
The victim family was accused of practicing witchcraft. A mob of 200 to 250 people attacked them and killed the entire family with extreme brutality, he said.
Bhuria disclosed that the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had deputed a special team of the AICC to meet the family members of the victims. He also spoke to brother of a victim.
The Adivasi Congress Chairman demanded permanent security for the victims’ family and adequate financial assistance.
He said, until the culprits are given exemplary punishment, such crimes will continue to take place. He added that the criminals had no fear of law in Bihar and they were moving around scot-free. “It is a complete goonda raj and jungle raj in Bihar”, he remarked.
Dr Bhuria pointed out that while there is lack of drinking water in Bihar, liquor is available quite easily. He said liquor bottles were found at the scene of the crime. What happened to the prohibition policy, he asked.
