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The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the Maharashtra police chief about the Palghar lynching case in which three people, including two Hindu ascetics, were killed, allegedly in the presence of the police on April 16, 2020 , during the national closure.
A press release issued on Tuesday by the human rights body said Maharashtra DGP had been asked to submit a detailed report within four weeks that should also include measures taken against the culprits and the relief offered to the families of the victims.
“The killing of three people in such a cruel way by the rebel mob that also during confinement across the country, under additional surveillance by the administration and the police, amounts to a serious violation of the right to life of the victims, “the NHRC notice said.
The victims identified as Kalpavruksha Giri, 70, Sushil Giri, 35, both Hindu sadhus, and their driver Neelesh Telgade, were lynched last Thursday in the village of Gadhchinchale, 110 km from Palghar. The victims were reportedly trying to go to Gujarat to attend the last rites of their religious guru, but were attacked by a mafia who apparently mistook them for child lifters.
A video of the incident went viral on Sunday, where unarmed police officers were seen observing the incident without intervening.
The incident led to political controversy with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacking the state government led by Shiv Sena for alleged negligence and cover-up claiming that its handling of the incident was political as it involved Hindus.
The NHRC notice also cites media reports to question the alleged police inaction.
“The video of the attack on the deceased went viral on 04/19/2020, showing that police personnel were also present when the victims were attacked,” the NHRC communication on the matter said.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray warned against the communalization of the incident and was backed by PNC chief Sharad Pawar, who said it was not the time to resolve the old political scores.
Also read: “There is no time to settle political accounts”: Sharad Pawar on the blame for the lynching of Palghar
Uddhav said swift action had been taken in the case with arrests of more than 100 suspects, including five key defendants. He added that two police officers had also been suspended for breach of duty. An investigation by the additional director general (CID) in the case was also ordered.
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