In a heart-wrenching incident, a 17-year-old boy named Rupesh Kumar Pandey died after being assaulted on Sunday evening at Kariyadpur village in Barhi police station area of the district during immersion procession after Saraswati Puja in Hazaribagh (Jharkhand). As per reports, Rupesh Pandey was allegedly assaulted near Dulmuha Devi Mandap resulting in his death at Sub Divisional Hospital, Barhi where he was taken in an unconscious condition.
After Rupesh was allegedly lynched to death, tensions flared in multiple districts of Jharkhand. An angry mob even torched five two-wheelers and one four-wheeler at the spot. Furthermore, the protest asking justice for Rupesh got spread in multiple districts. Following this, internet services were debarred in the district as also in Koderma, Giridih, Chatra, Ramgarh, and Bokaro for the time being to prevent rumor-mongering. However, the internet services were restored on February 9.
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As per OPIndia, the case registered in the police station names 27 such accused. Besides, 100 other unknowns have been booked in this case. Superintendent of Police, Hazaribag Manoj Ratan Chothe said, "A named FIR has been lodged against 27 persons besides many unknown people. So far four arrests have been made while a hunt is on for others. Prohibitory orders under section 144 has been imposed in Barhi. Adequate deployment of forces have been done to maintain law and order."
17-year-old Rupesh Pandey was the only son of Sikandey Pandey. The relatives of the boy have demanded action under the provisions of the Prevention of Mob Violence and Mob Lynching Bill, 2021, which aims at providing "effective protection" of the constitutional rights of people and the prevention of mob violence. The Hazaribag district administration has announced an immediate compensation of Rs 20,000 to the kin besides a lifetime pension of Rs 6,000 each to the mother and the father of the boy.