Have initiated probe into attack on Geeta Kora: IG
JHA VISITED MOHANPUR, MURGAGUTTU, AND SRIDHARPUR ON TUESDAY AND SPOKE WITH THE VILLAGERS, RECORDING THEIR STATEMENTS
JAMSHEDPUR : The South Chotanagpur zonal Inspector General (IG) Akhilesh Jha has initiated an investigation into the alleged attack on Geeta Kora, the sitting Singhbhum MP and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the parliamentary seat, at Mohanpur village under Gamharia police station (PS) on Sunday, people close to the development said on Wednesday.
“I went to the place of occurrence on Tuesday and talked to people and officers concerned. Recorded statements. The investigation is ongoing,” said Akhilesh Jha, the zonal IG, speaking to HT on Wednesday over the phone from Ranchi.
Jha visited Mohanpur, Murgaguttu, and Sridharpur villages on Tuesday and spoke with the local villagers, recording their statements.
The security personnel on duty during Geeta Kora’s visit to Mohanpur village on Sunday also accompanied the IG on Tuesday.
The IG also inspected the spots at Murgaguttu and Sridharpur where Geeta Kora’s convoy was initially blocked on the way to Mohanpur from Kandra and inquired with the Gamharia officer-in-charge and inspector Raju Thakur, Seraikela SDPO Santosh Mishra, and SeraikelaKharsawan SP Manish Toppo.
Superintendent of police (SP) Mukesh Toppo and SDPI Santosh Mishra visited all nearby villages, including Mohanpur, under the Burudih and Rapcha panchayats late Monday night.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expressed its displeasure and lack of trust in the state machinery over not a single arrest by the police or any action by the Seraikela-Kharsawan district administration three days after Kora was attacked and held hostage for two hours in Mohanpur village on Sunday.
“Three days have passed since our Singhbhum candidate and sitting MP Geeta Kora and party workers were attacked and held hostage for two hours. What action has the state government taken? Not a single arrest! When a sitting MP is being attacked deadly in this state, how safe and secure other women will be,” said Geeta Balmuchu, BJP convenor for the Singhbhum seat, at a press conference in Chaibasa on Wednesday.
BJP district president Sanjay Pandey, Mahila Morcha president Durgavati Boipai, Rupa Singh Das, and Trishanu Roy were also present at the PC. They alleged that it was a wellplanned conspiracy to terrorize the candidates and the people, and JMM wanted to win by murdering democracy.
Meanwhile, Kora has written a nine-page complaint to the Election Commission of India (ECI), detailing the sequence of events leading to being attacked and held hostage by a mob of over 50 armed persons.
“On April 14, when we were going to Salampatthar village, we were blocked first at Sridharpur. We reached Mohanpur by an alternate route where JMM workers and supporters were armed with sticks and traditional weapons. They gheraoed us and attacked. My government bodyguards and party workers tried to inform the SP, but he didn’t pick up the phone. Then, we informed the DGP. For two hours, we were held hostage as no police or administrative officers came,” she wrote in her letter.
JMM district president Shuvendu Mahato said it was a BJP conspiracy to tarnish the image and malign CM Champai Soren.
“The MP didn’t come to the villages for five years, that’s why people are questioning her. JMM has nothing to do with it. They also abused villagers with casteist comments and best some of them,” Mahato told the media.