BJP supports those involved in mob lynching, says Cong leader

Levelling a serious allegation against the BJP, Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay said that leaders from the saffron party often took the financial responsibility of people accused in cases of lynching.

Gumla (Jharkhand): Four villagers in Jharkhand's Gumla district were lynched by a group of 10-12 men on suspicion of them practising black magic.

The two men and two women belonged to three families in Gumla. The incident took place under the jurisdiction of the Sisayi police station on Saturday.

Speaking exclusively to ETV Bharat, Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay said, "The name of the state (Jharkhand) has become synonymous with mob lynching since Chief Minister Raghubar Das came in power. Nobody is feeling safe in the state. He also accused the BJP leaders of supporting the people involved in mob-lynchings. They (BJP) often take the economic responsibility of the accused who are responsible for the incident."

Around a dozen masked men raided the Nagar Shikari village under Sisayi police station around 3 am on Saturday and picked up the four family members from their house.

Villagers on condition of anonymity said that an assembly (panchayat) was organised before the incident took place. Charges were framed against the four deceased that all of them were involved in the practice of witchcraft and black magic.

The four people were dragged to a distance from the village and lynched with traditional weapons such as sticks and iron rods.

SP Gumla, Anjani Kumar Jha, told the media, "Prima facie it appears the victims were involved in witchcraft. The crime seems to have happened because of superstitious beliefs. An investigation is underway."