2016 Jharkhand mob lynching refers to the case of lynching of two Muslim cattle traders by allegedly cattle-protecting vigilantes in Balumath forests of

Latehar district Latehar district is one of the 24 districts of Jharkhand state in eastern India, and Latehar town is the administrative headquarters of this district. This district is part of Palamu division. Latehar district is situated on longitude 84° 3 ...

in the Indian state of

Jharkhand Jharkhand (; ; ) is a state in eastern India. The state shares its border with the states of West Bengal to the east, Chhattisgarh to the west, Uttar Pradesh to the northwest, Bihar to the north and Odisha to the south. It has an area of . I ...

on 18 March 2016. The attackers killed 32 year old Mazlum Ansari and 12 year old Imtiaz Khan who were both found hanging from a tree.

Events

Attack

According to Jharkhand police, preliminary investigation revealed that the two were on their way to a cattle market in

Chatra district Chatra district is one of the twenty-four districts of Jharkhand state, India. The district was formed after separation from Hazaribagh district in 1991. Chatra is the administrative headquarters of this district. The district covers an area of ...

. They had at least eight oxen with them, which they intended to sell. On 18 March 2016, they were reportedly caught by a group of tribal villagers in the early hours, beaten to death, and hanged from a tree. According to villagers, there were communal clashes over beef-eating in the area three months ago. Police stated that the murder was aimed at looting money and cattle.

Aftermath and arrests

Jharkhand Police Jharkhand Police is the law enforcement agency for the state of Jharkhand, India. Jharkhand Police was formed in 2000. Jharkhand Police is headed by Director General of Police and headquartered in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Jharkhand police have 4 lev ...

arrested 5 people and identified them as Mithilesh Prasad Sahu also known by his nickname Bunty, Pramod Kumar Sahu, Manoj Kumar Sahu, Awadhesh Sahu and Manoj Sahu and are looking for three others, also said to be involved in the murders. One of the accused has links to a local ''Gau Raksha Samiti'' (an outfit for protection of cows).

Reactions

Opposition party

Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...

and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha condemned the attack and demanded justice for family of the two victims.

References

External links