By TCN Special Correspondent,
Maniaka/Latehar (Jharrkhand): A joint fact-finding team of the People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), Jharkhand and the United Milli Forum (UMF), Jharkhand led by Shashi Bhusan Pathak, State General Secretary, PUCL, Jharkhand reached here yesterday to investigate the murder of NREGA Activist Niyamat Ansari.
The team met Bhukhan Singh, a colleague of Niyamat and his family who were kept at Manika Block office for security reasons. Later, the team visited Niyamat’s village, Jerua and met his family members and villagers. The team members pacified the family members and villagers and ensured them to take up the case to the concerned authorities so that justice could be done.
Talking to TwoCircles.net, the team leader Sashi Bhushan Pathak said, “This is a brutal act on the part of Maoists and it cannot be justified”. Talking about the findings of the team he said, “The nature of the case is complex as there are many gray areas and we are in the process of reaching a conclusion for the reason behind the killing”. However, “We condemn the killing in the strongest possible words,” he added. “The team will submit its comprehensive report within a week taking into consideration all facts and conversations,” he informed TCN.
In this regard, an FIR has been registered at Manika Police Station under section 147/148/149/452/302 of IPC and 17 CLA Act against 8 persons, which includes a Maoist Sudershan ji. Officer In-charge of Manika Police Station, Bharat Ram while talking to TCN late in the evening said, “We have arrested one person till now and search for others is on”. “Two platoons of CRPF have also been deployed since 4th of March in the village for both security reasons and for combing Maoists,” he added.
Meanwhile, through a press statement, the Sub-zonal committee of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) has owned the responsibility of the killing giving the reason that Niyamat was a police informer and involved in the cutting of forests on a large scale. The Maoists have alleged that Niyamat and his friend Bhukan were involved in the corruption and collection of money from villagers.
On 2nd March 2011 around 7 pm, Niyamat Ansari was picked up from his house and beaten brutally. He died of his injuries before it was possible for his relatives to reach him to the nearest hospital at Latehar. Niyamat is survived by his wife and 2 sons and a daughter. His other dependents include his father, mother, a physically challenged nephew and widowed sister and her daughter.