Two more prime accused in the June 29 lynching of a Muslim meat trader in Jharkhand surrendered in the Ramgarh court on Monday, reported PTI. Superintendent of Police of Ranchi Kishore Kaushal confirmed the development to the news agency. Three others, who were seen in various videos and photos were taken into custody for interrogation, senior officials said.
Earlier, one of the prime accused, Chhotu Rana, had surrendered in court. Deepak Mishra and Chhotu Verma surrendered on Monday after the district administration of Ramgarh planned to attach their property, Kaushal said. He added that seven accused had been arrested so far while three have surrendered in court.
Kaushal also said that a special team constituted by the administration was reviewing video and photos circulated on social media. Kaushal added that the number of security forces deployed in sensitive areas had been reduced as the situation had returned to normal. Ramgarh deputy commissioner Rajeshwari B said that the widow of the deceased would get pension from the state government.
Ramgarh police had on Saturday arrested a Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Nityanand Mahato, in connection with the lynching of Muslim trader Asgar Ansari. Ansari’s wife had claimed that the mob that beat her husband to death mostly included Bajrang Dal members. Mariam Khatoon had also denied reports that her husband traded in beef.
Ansari was beaten to death on Thursday because the mob believed he was carrying beef in his van. They also set the vehicle on fire. The Centre had claimed there was no “religious angle” to Ansari’s murder, while calling it a “barbaric incident”.
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