New Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday described the mob lynching of a Muslim youth in Jharkhand as a "blot on humanity" and criticised the "silence" of powerful voices in the BJP-ruled Central and state governments.
"The brutal lynching of this young man by a mob in Jharkhand is a blot on humanity. The cruelty of the police who held this dying boy in custody for four days is shocking as is the silence of powerful voices in the BJP-ruled Central and state government," he tweeted. Gandhi's remarks came two days after Tabrez Ansari, 22, died in a hospital on Sunday, days after he was brutally thrashed by a mob at Dhatkidih village in Seraikela district on suspicion of stealing a bike.
According to the police, a stolen motorcycle and some other things were also recovered from him. The incident came to light after a video went viral in which a mob was seen beating up Ansari who was tied to a tree. The police has arrested five people involved in the lynching of the youth while two policemen have also been suspended. According to police sources, initially Ansari tried to save himself by calling himself "Sonu". However, he was forced to reveal his real name after the mob asked him to chant "Jai Sri Ram".
After the thrashing, the mob handed him over to the police, which took him to a police post. However, he had to be admitted to hospital after his condition worsened and he died at the hospital on Sunday. Ansari's wife has questioned the role of the police in her husband's death alleging that he was not given timely medical treatment. Seraikela Superintendent of Police S. Kartik met Ansari's family and made the arrest based on his wife's FIR.
