BJP legislative party leader and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi on Sunday demanded the State Government to constitute a high level probe committee headed by a retired High Court Judge to investigate the Lohardaga riot cases. Marandi, who was on a day-long visit to Lohardaga along with senior BJP leaders, visited the riot affected areas and also met the family members of Neeraj Prajapati, who died in the stone pelting incidents two months back.
On January 23, members of particular community pelted stones on a procession taken out by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Bauxite town in support of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Marandi later talking to media persons said that there is a larger conspiracy behind Lohardaga incident claiming that district administration failed to check the incident.
He said, “The Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which had planned to take out procession in support of CAA, had submitted a letter on January 20 informing district administration about the procession but there was little preparations from administration’s end.” As the procession passed through various roads of city when it reached Amala Toli, stones were pelted. Marandi said, “Anti-social elements even pelted stones from the office of a political party indicating that members of political party too were behind the incident.” Marandi said that in the incident rioters attacked houses of members of a particular community and looted property.
Those who accompanied Marandi included Lohardaga MP and former union minister Sudarshan Bhagat, Chatra MP Sunil Singh, former minister Sukhdeo Bhagat, former MLA Gangotri Kujur, State BJP vice president Pradeep Sahu among others.
Curfew was imposed in the city following incidents of rioting, arson, loot and violent clashes, when a group of people allegedly pelted stones on a procession taken out by right wing groups in support of the recently enacted Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Though the Lohardaga assembly seat is reserved for scheduled tribes, the town has a sizeable Muslim population, around 25,000, in areas, including Amla Toli, Durga Bari chowk, Thana toil, Azad Basti, Tipu Sultan Chowk, Taizi Nagar, Star Colony and Somwar Bazar.
The BJP delegation said that even after passing of more than a month of riot the state government has not taken any cognizance and has not bothered to meet the victim’s family members.
The delegation members said that BJP with its demand to provide justice to family members will sit on dharna at Raj Bhavan. The delegation also demanded Rs 10 lakh as compensation for the bereaved family members.