Kanke was on boil for the second consecutive day on Monday over the death of Sagar Pahan who allegedly committed suicide at Birsa Munda Central Jail in the wee hours of Sunday. Hundreds of residents of Sukarhuttu laid siege to the Kanke police station and blocked Ranchi-Patratu Road for hours on Monday compelling the police to resort to mild force to contain the agitated mob as they decided to head towards the Chief Minister residence with the dead body.
“We had to use mild force to disperse the crowd as repeated plea to lift the blockade did not bear fruit,” said Rural SP, Raj Kumar lakra.
Distressed family of Sagar and residents of Sukarhuttu assembled at Mela Tand, Kanke to vent their ire against the alleged injustice to the victim and demanded compensation for the family. The demand included providing Indira Awaas, 35kg rice per month to the family, old age pension to the parents of Sagar besides, monetary compensation of Rs 20,000 and also immunity against arrest of any villager involved in hooliganism on Sunday. According to sources, the family was given `5,000 out of `20,000 demanded to encourage them to call off the protest however the agitated mob decided to proceed towards the CM house instead to register their protest which led to mild lathicharge by police.
The police took Sagar’s body under their custody and took it to his village where preparations were made for burial of the mortal remains of the deceased in the land adjacent to the house.
Meanwhile, police assured to explore all aspects of the family’s accusation about Sagar’s age and also the documents claimed to be furnished by the family in support of age. The family claimed to have furnished the certificate of matriculation which mentioned January 8, 1998 as the date of birth and 2012 as the year of passing the examination.
“The child had admitted that he is 19 years of age. Still, we will examine the certificate,” said lakra while trying to contain fury of the mob.
Incidentally, Sagar, an under-trial inmate lodged at Birsa Munda Central Jail, had committed suicide on Sunday morning. His body was found hung by a towel in the toilet of the Jail and was declared dead by the doctors of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences. Sagar was arrested on July 27 for allegedly eloping with a minor girl. Villagers of Sukarhuttu went berserk on Sunday after hearing the death and subsequently confronted Kanke Police over the incident. Police struggled to chase away stone pelting protestors, and later on registered cases against 200 people for taking law into their hands. No arrest was reported till the time of writing the report.