Even if Ranchi police has closed the file on the infamous Vinay Mahto murder case, kin and kith of the unfortunate boy are still unsatisfied with the findings registered by investigators in the brutal murder case so far.
Demanding that the case be handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Vinay’s parents sat on a one-day fast near Raj Bhawan on Sunday.
Vinay was found bleeding profusely near the teacher’s quarters of his school, Sapphire International School, in the early hours of February 5. He succumbed to the injuries while being taken to the hospital.
Surrounded by medals and certificates Vinay won in various sports and literary events at school and accompanied by the villagers of Chanda Ghasi and members of Ranchi chapter of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Vinay’s parents Manbahal Mahto and Kashila Devi strongly rebuffed love affair as the reason behind the grisly killing.
“Vinay used to share everything with me, small and big alike. But he never said anything about his friendship with the Hindi teacher Nazia Hussain’s daughter. We did not hear anything about this relation from the teacher either,” Kashila Devi said.
On asking whether they believe Nazia and her family to be the culprits, Manbahal Mahto, stating that he has never met the teacher in person, showed a remark she wrote in Vinay’s student’s report as his Standard II class teacher – “Medhavi, buddhiman tatha parishrami chhatra hai, sabhi karya kaksha mein man lagakar karta hai, nirantar isi prakar parishram karne se safalta kadam choomegi.” (Talented, intelligent and hard-working student, takes interest in doing his work in the class, will be successful if continuously endeavours like this.)
He also countered claims made by Dr Manoj Korah of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) that he conducted post-mortem on Vinay’s body to avoid a law and order situation due to an aggressive crowd demanding the same.
“We never demanded to have the post-mortem done before time. As for a rioting mob demanding this, there was not any. We were only five people at RIMS’ post-mortem room, after the two teachers who brought Vinay there fled,” said Manbahal.
“I asked again and again to not conduct the post-mortem until it is time and the authorities are there. I have it on recording,” Kashila Devi said.
“We demand that the case is investigated by CBI and tried in a fast-track court, charges are pressed against Sapphire school Chairman and Principal and they are arrested, action against doctors who neglected the regulations while conducting post-mortem and the school is brought under the aegis of State Government. If these are no met, we will take the movement to State and national levels,” said Pawan Pandey, State Supervisor, AAP.
Meanwhile, the period of judicial custody for Nazia Hussain and her husband Arif, the under-trials in the case, ends on Thursday.