By TCN Special Correspondent,
Ranchi: Condemning the brutal murder of activist Niyamat Ansari, members of different people’s organizations and senior social and human rights activists demanded judicial probe in the case. To protest the murder which took place on 2nd March, dozens of activist gathered at Albert Ekka Chowk here in the evening today and staged a protest march.
Senior social activist and friend of Niyamat Ansari, Gurjit Singh speaking after the march said, “The murder of Niyamat once again reminds us that the social activists are not safe in the state”. Referring to past incidents he demanded, “It is the responsibility of the government to ensure safety and security of those who are fighting against corruption and implementing government schemes and acts”.
Niyamat Ansari addressing NREGA workers
United Milli Forum (UMF), Jharkhand’s Co-convener, Afzal Anis demanded that, “The family of Ansari must be given compensation of Rs. 10 lakhs and at-least one family member of the diseased should be granted government job since he has been killed implementing government act”.
After the protest march, a fact-finding team has also been formed to visit the place of crime and investigate the case. The team to be coordinated by civil rights activist Mahtab Alam will be visiting the area on Sunday. The 10-member team comprises of Human Rights Activists, Journalists and Researchers.
According to Gurjit Singh, on Wednesday around 7 pm, Niyamat was picked up from his house and beaten mercilessly. He succumbed to injuries before his relatives could take him to the nearest hospital in Latehar.
Niyamat Ansari, a resident of Kope Gram Panchayat (Manika Bloack), has been working for the rights of NREGA workers in this area during the last few years. Together with other local activists, he fearlessly exposed many cases of fraud in NREGA. On 20 February 2011, Niyamat and his friends exposed a case of brazen embezzlement of NREGA funds in Rankikala Gram Panchayat. In response to this report, an FIR was lodged against the main culprit, Kailash Sahu, former BDO of Manika. More than two lakhs of rupees were also recovered from him and his accomplice, the Panchayat Sevak of Rankikala. While the BDO and Panchayat Sevak were caught because their names are on the fudged records, Shankar Dubey, a notoriously corrupt local contractor is still free. Local activists strongly believe that the goondas who had come to his house were Shankar Dubey’s men.