J'khand Cong team visits Purnia, urges Bihar govt to announce aid for family
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Ranchi: A five-member fact-finding committee of Jharkhand Congress on Wednesday visited Tetgama village in Purnia district of poll-bound Bihar where five members of a tribal family were burnt over suspicion of witchcraft on July 6 night.
While Bihar govt has reportedly slapped FIRs against 23 named and over 150 unknown besides arresting the main accused Nakul Oraon, also a tribal, as part of its probe so far, the visiting Cong delegation from Jharkhand, led by former minister and one of the working presidents of state Congress, Bandhu Tirkey, said that the incident should be seen as a 'blot on humanity'.
After visiting the violence-torn region and meeting local villagers, including members of the affected family, Tirkey said, "Superstition and illiteracy have destroyed an innocent family.
This is not just a murder, but a result of social evils. The govt must take concrete steps to prevent such incidents."
Tirkey has also demanded fair investigation into this case, and the harshest punishment for the guilty. "The govt must also immediately announce financial assistance and protection to the victim's family," he said, adding that he has provided Rs 21,000 to the family from his end as fiscal assistance.
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He also demanded that the govt and local administration must launch a mega awareness drive on priority to fight superstition in remote areas. "We also demand special measures for livelihood and security should be taken for tribal and Dalit communities," he said, adding that they have assured the victim family of all the possible assistance in future too.
The delegation also met with the local district magistrate and superintendent of police to press for a speedy probe. "We urged the administration to launch campaigns to solve village's basic issues such as roads, education, housing, health, water etc besides curbing superstition," he said.
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