Acting on a complaint by the Anjuman Islamia Committee in Pithoria district, Ranchi, over a Facebook post on the Tabrez Ansari death, the Jharkhand police have today arrested a girl named Richa Bharti.

In the FIR filed in Pithoria police station, the members of the Islamia committee alleged that a girl named, Richa Bharti had posted an ‘objectionable’ Facebook post over Tabrez Ansari’s death. She had allegedly made comments hurting the ‘religious sentiments’ of the Muslim community. Richa is a graduation part-three student.

Following the complaint, the Jharkhand police immediately sprung to action and arrested the girl within two hours and sent her to jail.

Tabrez Ansari’s death:

Tabrez Ansari, a 24-year-old man from Jharkhand, was allegedly, brutally beaten by a mob in Jharkhand on the 18th June on the accusation of theft. He had died on 22nd in police custody allegedly of cardiac arrest.

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According to the police, people had gotten into a fight with Ansari on 18th June who was accused of trying to steal a bike. After police got information about the same, they reached the spot and rescued him. Police had also recovered the stolen bike and some other items. The Police gave him first aid, subjected him to a medical examination and then submitted the report to the Court, only then he was sent to jail. Three days later, his health deteriorated and he died. Therefore, the Police says it is wrong to claim he died due to mob lynching.

Recent reports on Tabrez Ansari’s death:

Recent reports have confirmed that the 24-year-old died due to the negligence on the part of police and doctors. Two police officers have already been suspended in the case and action would be taken against the erring doctors, the investigating team said in its report.

Moreover, the investigation team set up by the district administration had concluded that Tabrez Ansari could have died of cardiac arrest. Police and doctors had maintained mob lynching not cause of death.

What Hindu organisations are saying about Richa Bharti’s arrest

This arrest of Richa Bharti over her Facebook post has, evoked discord, rage and distress amongst various Hindu outfits.

Many people belonging to different Hindu outfits, including members of VHP, RSS, Bajrang Dal and district office bearers of Hindu Jagaran Manch approached the Pithoria police station on July 13, 2019, and staged protests. Claiming that there was nothing ‘objectionable’ about the Facebook post the protestors demanded Richa Patel’s immediate release. They also demanded strict action against the Pithoria police.

The protestors alleged that the police has been biased and have not investigated the case properly. They alleged that the Pithoroa police have acted in haste without proper fact-finding.

The Hindu protestors claimed that if the girl has made religious comments in her Facebook post the people of the Muslim community opposing the post have also made equally objectionable comments on the girl’s religion in its response. In such a case, when both the parties have hurt each other religious sentiments then why such partial, one-sided action had been taken, questioned the protestors, who demanded Richa’s immediate release.

It would be interesting to note here that Mumbai police, on the other hand, had taken no action against the failed actor-turned rogue Ajaz Khan who had recently resorted to taunting Mumbai Police after they filed an FIR against TikTok ‘celebrities’ for propagating revenge over Tabrez Ansari’s death.

Meanwhile, the unfortunate death of this youth named Tabrez Ansari in Jharkhand has led to several incidences of violence.

Incidents of violence following Tabrez Ansari’s death:

On July 7, protest meetings carried out by a group of Muslim organisations under the banner of Muttahida Muslima Mahaz (MMM) yesterday in Ranchi, Jharkhand against the alleged lynching of Tabrez Ansari in Saraikela district of the state turned violent resulting in mounting tension in the area. The protestors reportedly vandalised a bus of Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) at Rajendra Chowk creating panic among the passengers.

According to reports, a boy named Vivek Srivastava was brutally stabbed by the mob protestors. Another one was also beaten up in the night when the two boys were passing by on a bike.

On June 27, it was reported how some members of Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM party had been threatening the villagers of rape, loot and violence over the unfortunate death of Tabrez Ansari.

Many more such incidents of violence, following Tabrez Ansari’s death, where stones were pelted, buses and houses set ablaze, police attacked, have also been reported from Meerut and Agra in the past.

Nevertheless, rural SP Ashutosh Shekhar and ASP Amit Renu reached the Pithoria police station and have assured that all the arguments made by the protestors would be considered. If the officer on duty, Vinod Ram, is found guilty, appropriate action would be taken against him, assured the SP.

They further said that the police would also investigate the Facebook post. They assured that if found guilty appropriate action would be taken against the complainants.