IT News
Mumbai, April 22
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sent a notice to the Maharashtra police chief, in connection with the recent incident of lynching of three persons in Palghar district and called for a detailed report within four weeks, on action taken against culprits and relief granted to kin of the deceased.
Based on a complaint in connection with the incident, a notice has been issued to the Maharashtra director general of police (DGP) over the mob lynching, in the presence of police personnel in Palghar district on April 16, the NHRC statement said.
The commission has observed that the incident is apparently indicative of “negligence by the public servants”. The death of the three persons in such a cruel manner by an unruly mob, that too during the ongoing countrywide lockdown under extra vigil by the administration and police, amounts to “gross violation of the right to life of the victims”, it said.
The saints of “Juna Akhara”, Swami Kalpvrikshgiri (70), Swami Sushilgiri (35) and their driver Neelesh Telgade (30), were brutally attacked reportedly by the local tribals, between 9.30 PM and 10 PM at Gadchinchale village, on 16 April. They were on their way to Surat (in Gujarat) to attend a funeral of their guru Sri Mahant Ramgiri. They were travelling from Kandivali (in North Mumbai) to Surat. The villagers stopped their vehicle and began attacking them on suspicion that they were thieves/ child lifters. Eventually all the three died on the spot.
In all 101 persons have been arrested and remanded to police custody till 30 April and 9 juveniles have been sent to remand homes. The incident has sent shock waves across the country with seers threatening to gherao the Maharashtra Government.
On Tuesday, Mahant Narendragiri Maharaj, President of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad said in Nashik (Maharashtra) that lakhs of Naga sadhus will march to Maharashtra from all over the country if the state government fails to take stringent action against the accused.
The Naga Sadhus, literally meaning ‘Naked Yogis’, are a part of the Shaivite sadhus. Their physical appearance of ash-covered bodies and matted dreadlocks resembling Lord Shiva comes from being Shaivites or followers of Lord Shiva. Even today, they carry tridents.
In the meanwhile a blame game between political parties is on with opposition BJP squarely blaming the Maharashtra Government led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for the incidenr. BJP has also blamed CPM and has claimed that the accused named in the FIR include 5 workers of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and one worker belonging the Nationalist Congress Party(NCP). The CPM workers are: Jairam Dhak Bhavar, Mahesh Sitaram Raote, Ganesh Deoji Rao, Ramdas Rupaji Asare and Sunil Somaji Raote. Sitaram Chowdhary, NCP worker and Panchayat Samiti member has also been named in the FIR. Some of the main culprits are still absconding, BJP sources have claimed.
