Jharkhand: Police chase local hawker for allegedly extorting money, man dies

In a fateful incident reported from Jharkhand, a man was reportedly chased by a few policemen for allegedly extorting money from him until he fell and breathed his last due to excessive running and alleged beating.

As per some media reports, the development occurred when the deceased, identified as Rajesh Kumar Mandal, a resident of Chandana village under Sonaraithadhi police station limits of Deoghar district, was going to Palajori market to buy some stuff for his business when a few policemen allegedly chased and beat him for money on August 3.

In her complaint, the deceased wife, Namita Devi, alleged that the police collect a daily levy of Rs 500 from the local hawkers near Fateh Nath Shiv temple. When her husband Rajesh was going to the market on August 3 afternoon, he was stopped by the policemen; though anticipating the rain, Rajesh did not stop there, following which the policemen chased down him with the police vehicle and started abusing him. Horrified by the chase, the deceased started running towards the field by leaving his bike, alleging the complaint letter filed by the deceased wife.

Further, Namita, in her complaint, had also alleged that a few men who were at the spot informed her that Rajesh was also thrashed by the on-duty ASI Sanjay Singh and fellow policemen, following which he died due to excessive running and beating. The policemen also took the cash and mobile from Rajesh’s pocket along with the deceased’s motorcycle with them, read the complaint letter further.

Meanwhile, sharing the details of the incident, senior BJP leader from the state, Babulal Marandi, appealed to the Deoghar Superintendent of Police (SP) Deoghar to look into the matter and arrest the named accused in the case by filing an FIR for the murder. The BJP leader also alleged that the accused are also trying to eradicate evidence; thus, they should be dismissed.

राजेश मंडल फेरी का सामान लेने पालाजोरी बाजार जाते थे। स्थानीय पुलिस उनसे प्रतिदिन डरा धमकाकर पैसे लेती थी। दिनांक 03/08/2023 को जब वो सामान लेकर अपने घर जा रहे थे तो पुलिस ने उन्हें फिर रोका। भारी बारिश के कारण वे नहीं रुके। बस पुलिस को यह बात नागवार गुजरी।

पालाजोरी थाना,… pic.twitter.com/nrhdrEFiZl

— Babulal Marandi (@yourBabulal) August 4, 2023

The incident has now raised serious concerns pertaining to the current state of law and order in the state, which is already under scanner after a local leader of CPI (M) was shot dead near Daladali Chowk under Nagdi police station limits of Ranchi last week. The incident sparked outrage among the party workers, who hit the streets in protest. At the same time, the other leaders from different political affiliations also demanded the arrest of the accused.

The Chief Minister of the state Hemant Soren, had also assured that the culprits would be nabbed soon, following which the Jharkhand police swung into action and arrested as many as three accused in the case on August 4.

Taking to Twitter, Ranchi police informed that as many as three accused had been arrested in connection with the murder of Subhash Munda near Daladali Chowk. The weapon and the vehicle used in the crime were also seized by the police from the possession of the accused; read the tweet further.

नगड़ी थाना क्षेत्र के दलादली चौक के पास सुभाष मुंडा की हत्या के मामले में तीन अपराधकर्मियों को गिरफ्तार किया है। अपराधियों के पास से हत्या में इस्तेमाल किए गए हथियार व बाइक भी बरामद किया गया है। @JharkhandPolice @Lathkar_IPS @amolhomkar_IPS pic.twitter.com/sZyd6KW2xW

— Ranchi Police (@ranchipolice) August 4, 2023