In a nerve chilling incident on Saturday afternoon, prominent AJSU party leader and one of the strongest contenders for Chatra parliamentary constituency Tileshwar Sahu, was shot dead at his Barhi residence in broad daylight. The incident reportedly left one minor girl injured also.
The incident happened at Sahu’s house, ‘Barhi House’, at around 2.30 pm while the slain leader was interacting with party workers at a programme organised on ‘International Women’s Day’ when he was fired at by two armed assailants in the presence of his personal bodyguards. The assailants are said to be members of the banned outfit — the People liberation Front of India (PlFI). Sahu reportedly sustained three bullet injuries. “One person has been arrested with pistol and bullet. He has confessed that Sahu has been killed at PlFI’s command. We are following this line of investigation,” said SP of Hazaribagh.
Reacting to the gruesome incident, the AJSU party has called for Statewide bandh on Sunday and has also postponed its parliamentary board meeting slated to take place to select candidates for lok Sabha elections. The party has termed it an irreparable loss at a crucial time. “This is indeed a severe jolt to the party. His absence at this crucial juncture spells loss for us,” said AJSU spokesperson Deosharan Bhagat.
Notably, Sahu had arranged a programme on International Women’s Day at his Barhi residence. After the programme concluded Sahu, the former Chairman of the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board, came down from the dais to interact with the female workers. In the meantime, two youths in the age group of 24 to 25 years came near Sahu on the pretext of shaking hands however one of them fired at Sahu knocking him down. In between another ultra also opened fired but it hit the wall and in rebound injured a minor girl. Sahu was rushed to Barhi Hospital and was subsequently referred to Sadar Hospital. Sahu’s family wanted him to take to Ranchi for better treatment however he succumbed to injuries at around 3.40 pm.
According to eyewitnesses, the assailants fled the spot soon after dealing a fatal blow that made few party workers chase them up to a distance. The ultras were said to have dumped their bike to run on foot, however, one assailant was subsequently caught by party workers. The ultra who was caught has been identified as Suraj alias Saryu who is said to be a resident of Gumla. Other assailant managed to escape.
As the news of his death spread market of Barhi got closed and the party workers jammed both NH2 and NH33. No senior police officer was attending calls at the time of filing this report. Sources in the police confided that the bullet has entered into his heart which proved fatal. Incidentally, Sahu was said to be in the hit list of PlFI since long. It is said that due to PlFI he had shifted from Ranchi-Gumla districts to Barhi in 2011. Here in short time he had made his identity and has strengthened the party also.
Earlier, Sahu had also formed the Shanti Sena (an anti-Maoist private army), and was also said to be the brain behind the political rise of Enos Ekka, a first-time MlA in 2005, who had gained his clout through government contracts and an alliance with the Sahus. Sahu rose to prominence in 2005 when he is said to have played an important role in the formation of NDA government in the State by roping in Enosh Ekka’s support for the NDA. Sahu also served as Chairman of Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board until change in guard 2006.
Interestingly, Sahu was axed by the Madhu Koda Government for his alleged role in the killings of eight tribals in Simdega in October 2006. The slain leader belonged to the powerful moneylender Sahu community which is the main opponent of lower caste and tribal dominated PlFI in Gumla, Khunti and Simdega districts.