Acting tough against those involved in the brutal killings of innocent people, the police arrested four more persons in connection with the lynching at Nagadih (in Bagbera) and Rajnagar on Wednesday. The total number of arrests made in both the incidents has gone up to 11 so far.
Police arrested three persons involved in the lynching at Nagadih under suburban Bagbera police station area today, and one person was arrested in connection with the Rajnagar lynching in adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district.
Earlier, police had arrested five persons involved in Nagadih lynching and two involved in Rajnagar lynching. Those arrested in Nagadih lynching were identified as Jagdish Sardar (32) and Ranjit Sardar, both brothers and Jawaharlal Sardar (25), all residents of Ghaghidih in Bagbera.
The police arrested them, all said to be contract workers, by raiding houses at Sundarnagar police station area near Nagadih. The assailants were hiding at the relatives’ house fearing their arrest.
Bagbera police station Officer In-charge Rajesh Ranjan said except Rahul Sardar who was arrested on Tuesday, all those arrested were unnamed accused.
"We are looking for more suspects. We are confident that all those involved in the killings will have to face action as per the law. So far we have arrested eight persons in connection with the Nagadih lynching incident, but only one of them, Rahul Sardar, was a named accused. Rest of them are being arrested after interrogation of the suspects," said the OC. He said there were 17 named accused.
When questioned over the police role in nabbing culprits, Ranjan, said that relatives, especially female members are putting hurdle in the police action.
"The women in tribal dominated Sundarnagar thana area are not cooperating with us. We are thinking of taking action against the house-owners where those wanted in Nagandih lynching incident had taken shelter," said the OC.
The police today also recovered a burnt police bike from Nagadih where the mob had set it on fire while getting indulged in a fight with the police on Thursday night soon after they lynched three youths.
On the other hand in Seraikela-Kharsawan district, a 28-year-old man, J.l Mahto was arrested from Shosomauli village in Rajnagar block in connection with the Rajnagar lynching.
Superintendent of police Rakesh Bansal said that Mahto who was absconding for the past five days had returned his house at Shosomauli, and as the police got to know about it, they arrested him. The accused was sent to Seraikela divisional jail after producing him before a judicial magistrate at the Seraikela civil court.
Bansal said Mahto is one of the 21 accused identified for being involved in the lynching at Rajnagar where four cattle traders were lynched in the name of child-lifters on May 18.