Jharkhand Mob Lynching Case: Police Drop Murder Charges Against 11 Citing Autopsy Report

Police have dropped murder charges against all the accused in the mob lynching case of a young Muslim man Tabrez Ansari in Jharkhand's Saraikela- Kharsawan as the final post-mortem report has now indicated cardiac arrest as the reason for his death.

Police sources say that the charge sheet was filed based on the post-mortem report. (File Photo/ PTI)

Ranchi: In a unique turn of events, Police have dropped murder charges against all the accused in the mob lynching case of a young Muslim man Tabrez Ansari in Jharkhand's Saraikela- Kharsawan as the final post-mortem report has now indicated cardiac arrest as the reason for his death. As per reports, Ansari died due to cardiac arrest and Police have submitted the charge sheet in court recommending initiation of trial in the case under section 304 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) instead of section 302 (murder) earlier. While the quantum of punishment under section 302 is death or imprisonment for life and fine, the penalty under Section 304 is imprisonment for life or imprisonment for ten years or fine or both. Videos showing Ansari being beaten up while tied to a pole had gone viral on social media. His tormentors were seen forcing him to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Jai Hanuman'. According to news agency IANS, Police sources say that the charge sheet was filed based on the post-mortem report. Now the case will be treated as a culpable homicide not amounting to murder.  Based on the FIR of Ansari, a murder case had been slapped against 11 people who had thrashed Ansari. Ansari was caught by villagers with a stolen bike and was thrashed in Seraikela-Kharsawa district on June 17. He was later sent to jail by the police and died a few days later. A total of 11 people were arrested in the case. The initial report of the probe team, the police reacted late and doctors did not treat Ansari's injuries properly. The final report of the post-mortem, however, seems to have given a clean chit to the policemen, doctors and people involved in assaulting Ansari. "The final post-mortem report indicated that it was not a pre-planned murder of Tabrez Ansari. As per the post-mortem report Tabrez Ansari died due to cardiac arrest. The report also mentioned fracture in the brain," said Kartik, SP of Seraikela-Kharsawa district told the news agency. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was set up to probe the incident and two policemen were suspended for alleged dereliction of duty. The arrested accused in the case are: Prakash Mandal alias Pappu Mandal, Kamal Mahato, Sunamo Pradhan, Premchand Mahali, Sumant Mahato, Madan Nayak, Chamu Nayak, Mahesh Mahali, Kunal Mahali, Satyanarayan Nayak, Bhim Sen Mandal, Vikram Mandal and Atul Mahali. The SP even informed that charge sheet has been filed against Vikram Mandal and Atul Mahali.