Ishwar Sahu
It is nothing short of a miracle for Ishwar Sahu, the father of the deceased Bhuvneshwar Sahu,
a 23-year-old youth who was brutally killed by Islamists in April this year after he defeated 7-term MLA and former minister in the Bhupesh Baghel government, Ravindra Chaubey by a margin of around 5000 votes.
The empathetic win of Ishwar over the former minister of the Bhupesh Baghel-led government has stormed the internet as a number of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and netizens are all praised for his efforts and determination.
Sahu, an ordinary villager who contested the election against the Congress’s heavyweight after his son was killed over a minor scuffle between the children which later turned into a communal flare up between Hindus and Muslim in Biranpur village of Bemetara district has defeated Chaubey against all odds. The victory in the election is nothing short of a miracle for a man, who has been running from pillar to post seeking justice for his deceased son till recently.
The Biranpur incident
It is to be noted that the case pertains to the brutal murder of a youth identified as Bhuvneshwar Sahu of Biranpur village under Saaja police station limits of Bemetara district in Chhattisgarh on April 08 this year.
The cold-blooded murder of the youth occurred after a group of Islamists attacked the Hindu community over a minor scuffle between the two students returning from school and a youth of the Muslim community. It was then reported that Bhuvneshwar Sahu was stabbed by a group of people, and when he fell unconscious, they took him along. Later, his body was found lying in an open space.
Bhuvneshwar’s father, Ishwar Sahu had earlier alleged that his son was murdered due to a four month enmity that aroused after a Muslim man married a girl from our community. He further alleged that the Hindus had a meeting ‘called’Hindu Sabha’ after they took a girl from our community thus they wanted to take revenge.
It was also claimed that the reason behind the growing enmity between the two communities was due to the number of incidents of Love Jihad that had occurred in the region over a couple of years time, that finally led to a violent clash between the groups in which Bhuvneshwar was killed.
The incident sparked a huge outrage among the Hindu community in the state following which calls were given for a statewide shutdown by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). The shutdown call was also supported by the Bhilai Chamber of Commerce and the BJP whose state president Arun Sao had also arrived at the village to meet the victim’s family.
Allegations levelled by Sahu’s father
Notably, earlier in August, Ishwar Sahu in a PC, labelled a shocking allegation against the incumbent Congress government of Chhattisgarh. Sahu had alleged that he was tricked by the Sub divisional magistrate and block revenue officer who allegedly took his signature on a paper pertaining to acceptance of compensation money provided by the government.
Interacting with the media, Sahu had alleged that he was called up for a meeting, where SDM and the block revenue officer were already in attendance. They told me to sign a paper asserting that it is related to the development works of your village and already has signatures of the village head and others. I didn’t want to sign that paper but signed it after they insisted. Later on I got to know that the paper I signed pertains to the compensation amount provided by the government which I had refused in the past as well.I was tricked by them.
Sahu had further alleged that the others accused in the case have not been arrested, additionally whatever I want to mention in my statement against those who have been held so far, are not being taken while what I don’t say has been taken as my statement, when I go to the Saaja police station for a Challan (receipt) police says come tomorrow and avoid my request, in such a scenario what can we expect from the government.
At the end, Sahu had alleged that Bhuvneshwar’s mother was also threatened by a youth from the Muslim community who said, ” till now only one member of the Teli community has been killed in Biranpur, there would be others as well.” Further, when asked about what he seeks in the matter, Sahu had replied with a folded hand “I don’t want any compensation or a job either, all I want is Justice.”
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