RANCHI: Civil rights activists under the banner of Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JJM) investigated the incident of firing in Kuku-Piri forest on June 12 in which one Bramhadev Singh was killed.
The JJM team’s findings were similar to that of the BJP ST wing, which accused the security forces of opening fire on villagers and ruled out the involvement of Maoists.
The only difference between the observations of the two fact-finding teams remained in the identification of the security forces.
While the BJP team blamed the Jharkhand Jaguar and district police, the Mahasabha did not identify any security wing.
The Mahasabha team comprising representatives of Adivasi Adhikar Manch, Adivasi Women’s Network and Human Rights Law Network, among others, visited Kuku-Piri village on June 17 and spoke to the affected families and the local administration as well.
On Wednesday, the team met the deputy commissioner of Latehar, the DIG of Palamu range and the deputy SP of Latehar to discuss the findings and later addressed the media.
The team said there was no exchange of fire and “innocent villagers were fired upon by the security forces.” The team said that six tribal youths went out for traditional Sarhul hunting with a ‘bharatua’ gun, used in killing birds and small animals.
“But they had not fired a single bullet as they were hardly 50 feet away from their homes and had seen the security persons coming,” a member of the team, Siraj, said.
The Mahasabha claimed that the youth had raised their hands in surrender and shouted that they were villagers.
“But the security personnel kept firing.
One of the bullets fired by them hit one of the villagers, Dinenath, in the hand.
Another bullet hit Bramhadev.
The firing continued for about half an hour.
Fearing being shot at; the five men ran away from the forest.
Thereafter, the security forces took Bramhadev to the edge of the forest and fired three shots at him, which led to his death,” she said quoting the villagers.
Pointing finger at the intent of police, Mahasabha said that the FIR does not mention Bramhadev’s death by police firing.
“According to the FIR, this incident was an exchange of fire in which the first shot was fired by the group of armed villagers and some people fled into the forest.
The FIR also mentions that Brahmadev’s body was found at the edge of the forest.
These statements are contrary to the facts.
The police have filed a case against the six Adivasis, including Bramhadev, under various sections which exposes the true intentions of the police,” another member of the team, Prafull Linda, said.
Based on its findings, the Mahasabha said: “A fresh FIR should be lodged against the security personnel or officers responsible for the firing and the death of Bramhadev and action should also taken against the local police for registering wrong FIR based on concocted facts,” the delegation in its letter to the DC has said.
The JJM has also demanded an ex-gratia relief of Rs 10 lakh for the widow of Bramhadev and special training for security personnel in tribal traditions, languages and customs.