By Sajid
Aurangabad: In a sensational bloody drama unfolded on June, 25, 2008 angry villagers beat to death three sandalwood smugglers in the village of Palus Kheda Bechirag in the Bhokardan tehsil, about 75 km from Aurangabad district in Maharashtra.
In the beginning it was not a communal case but after the involvement of a reporter who belongs to Shiv Sena the drama took an ugly turn and the alleged smugglers who happened to be Muslims with beard had to lose their lives.
When the murderers found that the smugglers are still alive they burnt their bodies though the victims were crying and saying that they are not thieves, they are the businessmen and just after having a deal with sandalwood supplier were returning to home.
In this whole episode Zafar Khan Sher Khan (22), resident of Nanegaon ,Bismillah Khan Mahboob Khan (25) and Feroz Khan Mahboob Khan ( 35), residents of Dongargaon, were killed on spot.
According to details, the villages around the Bhokardan tehsil like Veregaon, Pualus Kheda Bechirag, Talni, Alapur, Malkapur, were already troubled with the thieves, since last two weeks they were passing sleepless nights and guarding their families as well as their valuables. Some of the villagers were beaten up by the thieves also.
On 25th of June the police was tipped that some of the sandalwood smugglers were having a deal with supplier inYour browser may not support display of this image. Kathora Bazar a village of Bhokardan Tehsil that comprises 95% Muslim population and sandalwood smuggling is the main occupation of villagers.
Somebody informed the police that the smugglers have Rs.20, 00,000 with them. Within 15 minutes the police reached the spot and tried to chase the victims. When the smugglers found it difficult to escape leaving their Bolero (jeep) they started running away in the forest.
Police started shouting thieves, thieves. The farmers also followed all the thieves and thrashed them and handed them over to the police. But one of the injured men said that they are not the thieves and recently they have paid Rs.50,000 as ‘hafta’ to the police and even police was trying to get more so we started running. Knowing the involvement of police, the villagers also started pelting stone towards the police.
The villagers around got the wind of the drama and soon a huge mob gathered there. Some of the eyewitnesses informed that seeing that all of the sandalwood smugglers are Muslims, a local reporter who belongs to Shiv Sena quickly made calls. He collected a group of supporters there and tried to instigate the people shouting the slogan of “Jay Shivaji.”
The mob then vigorously beat the smugglers killing three of them on the spot. Under the pretext of molesting they made a story and finally got the control over the other five smugglers who were under police custody.
The eye witness informed that the three smugglers being Muslims were killed cruelly, and the police arranged this drama only for money. The police made unwanted delay on the spot. After catching smugglers it was possible for the police to leave the spot but they didn’t and this led to the death of the three.
In this regard police has arrested about 60 persons from these villages. The Shive Sena and the BJP leaders has visited their houses and assured them that very soon they will be released from clutches of Police.
Various political parties called Mochas demanding suspension of the Police Inspector Ghodke and not to arrest the innocent peoples.
People were found whispering in the villages that the role of Police is doubtful in the whole drama. Its involvement in the sandalwood business may come out if it is investigated properly.