@KapilMishra_IND  |  Photo Credit: Twitter
Key Highlights
- Family members of Rupesh Kumar Pandey have called for action under the provisions of the Prevention of Mob Violence and Mob Lynching Bill, 2021
- The Prevention of Mob Violence and Mob Lynching Bill, 2021, aims to provide “effective protection” of the constitutional rights of people and prevent mob violence
- Internet services were suspended for 36 hours after the incident, taking a toll on the productivity of banks and other institutions
Ranchi: Kapil Mishra, the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, alleged on Wednesday that the Jharkhand Police had detained him at the Birsa Munda Airport. Mishra arrived in Ranchi to visit Rupesh Kumar Pandey’s family in Hazaribag.
Pandey, 17, died after he was allegedly assaulted on February 6 at Kariyadpur village in the Barhi area of the district during an immersion procession after Saraswati Puja. The horrific incident occurred during a clash between members of two communities.
Surendra Kumar Jha, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ranchi, could not be reached for an official statement, reported news agency PTI.
“Detained by Jharkhand police at Ranchi Airport for last two hours,” posted Kapil Mishra on Twitter.
At 9:20 am, Mishra tweeted that police had stopped him at the Ranchi airport and would not allow him to leave.
“My point is clear. I have come to meet the bereaved family of Rupesh Pandey ji. I am ready to go to Rupesh ji’s house with a few people in a police vehicle. Stopping me raises questions on the intention of the Jharkhand government,” he said.
Mishra stated that he spoke to deceased Rupesh Pandey’s mother over a video call, and was barred from leaving the airport by police.
“Pandey’s mother says nothing is acceptable to her than hanging the culprits …I told him that the whole country is with him,” said Mishra in another tweet.
Mishra also posted a video in which Pandey’s mother, who has stopped eating, is demanding justice for her son.
“I have come from Delhi to tell you that we all are your sons. You are not alone. You have support from all over the world,” said the BJP leader.
The video shows Pandey’s mother demanding that the culprits be hanged, to which Mishra said they should be hanged because this was calculated murder.
In Mishra’s words, Rs 14 lakh has been collected from people, and money will be transferred to the account of Pandey’s mother and she will be represented by a legal team.
“We will not stop till justice is delivered to you. The entire country is with you. I have been detained by the police. I will come again…We are with your family. Rupesh Pandey has sacrificed his life…We are indebted to your family,” Mishra told Pandey’s mother.
BJP legislative party leader Babulal Marandi, in the meantime, tweeted: “Chief Minister Hemant Soren Ji, what message will be sent to the country and the world about Jharkhand by your repressive move in democracy. At least think about it. After all, why are you stopping Kapil Mishra from going to visit the bereaved family?”
A five-member Jharkhand government delegation met with Pandey’s parents earlier this week and promised financial assistance and a job to a family member. The delegation will present its report to the CM.
However, Hazaribag SP Manoj Ratan Chouthe has been insisting that the incident was not the result of a mob lynching and that all the five accused, who had personal enmity towards the deceased, have been arrested, citing the findings of the SIT he set up.
In Ramgarh, Hazaribag, and Giridih districts, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC were issued on Sunday after Hindutva groups called for a 12-hour shutdown following the incident. Hundreds of right-wing activists gathered in the streets, demanding justice.
In his earlier visit to the residence of the deceased, Marandi had stated that the lynching incidents in the state are a sign that there is no law and order.