KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur, January 3: Three days after the custodial death of 32-year-old Jeet Mahto, BJP leader and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda on Saturday visited the victim’s residence at Gokul Nagar under MGM police station area.
Accompanied by a large number of BJP workers, Munda met Jeet Mahto’s mother and wife and sought details about the events that allegedly led to his death while in police custody.
Allegations of Third-Degree Torture
Jeet Mahto was arrested about a week ago on charges of allegedly stealing a mobile phone and was interrogated for two days at MGM police station. During interrogation, he was allegedly subjected to third-degree torture, after which his health condition deteriorated.
He was subsequently taken to MGM Medical College and Hospital, where he later died. Family members alleged that they were not allowed to meet him during his detention at the police station.
Compensation Paid After Custodial Death
Following Jeet Mahto’s death, the police administration registered an unnatural death (U/D) case and abruptly paid ₹2 lakh as compensation to the bereaved family.
The compensation, according to the BJP, raises serious questions about the circumstances surrounding the custodial death.
Arjun Munda Demands Judicial Enquiry
After meeting the family, Arjun Munda demanded a judicial enquiry into Jeet Mahto’s custodial death.
“From the conversation with the bereaved family members and the circumstances, it appears that Jeet Mahto was fatally injured during police interrogation. This seems to be the reason why the police abruptly paid ₹2 lakh as compensation after his death,” Munda told mediapersons.
Attack on State Government, Warning of Agitation
Deploring the incident, the former chief minister alleged that under the JMM-led Mahagathbandhan government, even poor people do not seem to have the right to remain alive.
Munda demanded that the district administration recommend a judicial enquiry into the matter and also sought action against the Officer-in-Charge of the MGM police station.
He warned that if the administration fails to act, the BJP would be forced to launch a decisive agitation over the issue.
BJP Announces Protest Plan
BJP district committee president Sudhanshu Ojha, who accompanied Munda during the visit, also announced that the party would intensify its agitation if the district administration evades a judicial enquiry into Jeet Mahto’s custodial death.
