Amit Shah seeks report over Palghar mob lynching

Union Home Minister Amit Shah today spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray over the lynching of two sadhus in Palghar on April 16. The Home Ministry has also sought a report on the same.

New Delhi: With the mob lynching of three people at Palghar district of Maharastra generating widespread reactions from across India, the Union Home Ministry on Monday asked for a detailed report from Maharastra government.

Expressing dismay over the incident, Home Minister Amit Shah had a talk with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and asked him to take strong actions against the culprits. It was on Friday, two sadhus of Juna Akhara (largest order of sadhus in India) Swami Kalpabriksh Giri, Swami Sushil Giri and their driver Nilesh Telgere were beaten to death by a mob of more than 100 people following a mistaken identity.

However, few videos of the ghastly incident went viral on social media inviting sharp reactions from across the country. Stating that there is nothing communal in this whole incident, Maharastra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray warns action against those "inciting communal flanges."

The Maharastra government has suspended two policemen and appointed ADG CID crime branch Atulchandra Kulkarni to investigate into the matter. Over 100 persons have been arrested including five main accused. Nine minors have also been sent to juvenile homes.

Leaders cutting across party lines have expressed shock over the incident. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had a talk with Maharastra Chief Minister and asked him to take strong actions against people involved in the heinous crime.

The trio was reportedly beaten to death on the suspicion that they were child abductors. Attacks over child abductions earlier took place in different parts of India.

Criticizing the incident, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has alleged that the incident has once again exposed the 'notorious motives' of certain sections of people. The VHP has demanded a high-level investigation into the incident and punish the killers.

VHP has also raised questions over the lockdown measures in Maharastra. Meanwhile, the Home Ministry has set up six teams and sent them to Maharastra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal to monitor on the lockdown issues over COVID-19.

There are the increasing numbers of COVID positive cases too in few districts these four states. "The teams have been asked to make an on-spot assessment of the situation and report to the Home Ministry," Home Ministry officials said.

The central team will visit Mumbai and Pune in Maharastra, Jalpaiguri, Kolkata, Howrah, 24 Paraganas North, Medinipur, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong in Bengal, Indore in Madhya Pradesh and Jaipur in Rajasthan.

"The central team will visit the hotspot and containment zones for Covid19 and they will assist the district administration in this connection," said Puniya Salila Srivastava, joint secretary in the Home Ministry.

In another development, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla has written a letter to Kerala Chief Secretary Tom Jose following reports that the state has given major extra relaxation in the lockdown measures.

Kerala government has allowed the opening of barbershops, restaurants, book stores, MSMEs in municipal limits, bus travel in the cities-towns for a shorter distance, two passengers in the backseat of the four-wheeler, pillion riding on scooters, etc.

"This amounts to dilution of guidelines issued by MHA and violation of MHA order dated 15th April 2020 issued under the Disaster Management Act 2005. I would urge you to rectify the guidelines of Government of Kerala in line with the consolidated revised guidelines without any dilution and to ensure strict compliance of lockdown measures," said Bhalla in his letter to Kerala Chief Secretary.

The Home Ministry, meanwhile, reiterated to the States and UTs that the lockdown guidelines issued under the Disaster Management Act can be made more strict according to the local requirement "but are not to be diluted in any circumstances."