Jamshedpur: Two years after the killing of a tribal villager Brahmadev Singh by security forces during an anti-Naxal operation, the Jharkhand High Court has ordered Rs 5 lakh compensation to the widow of the victim and an independent investigation to identify the guilty cops within three months.

The court of Justice S.K. Dwivedi on Monday (the order copy was shared on Thursday) while hearing the petition of Jiramani Devi, 24, widow of Singh, a native of Piri village in Garu block of Latehar district of Jharkhand, in its judgment has directed the Jharkhand government to constitute a “fresh team of investigators under a senior police official” by the DGP and secretary home department, Jharkhand into the
killing by the police and submit its report within three months.

The court also directed the state government to pay “a sum of Rs 5 lakh in favour of the petitioner (Jiramani) within four weeks from the date of receipt/production of this order and this shall be implemented through the Jharkhand government home secretary within the aforesaid period”.

Incidentally, Jharkhand police had admitted before the high court that the death of Singh had occurred due to police firing.

Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (a coalition of human rights organisations) in its fact-finding report shared with the media two years back had stated that on June 12, 2021, security forces, out on a Naxal search campaign, opened fire on innocent Adivasis of Piri village (Garu, Latehar, Jharkhand) during which Singh was shot dead. Adivasis, including Singh, were going out on a traditional hunting ritual, as every year, for the Sarhul festival.

They all carried the single-fire Bhartua gun which is used to hunt small animals and birds like rabbits, pigs and chickens and to protect crops from animals.

Human rights outfits welcomed the high court verdict but termed it as a “partial
justice”.

“Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha has been continuously fighting for justice in
this matter. The Mahasabha welcomes the decision of the high court and salutes the struggle of all the villagers and social workers who are cooperating in this case including Jiramani and the commitment of the lawyers who are handling the case in the local and High Court.

“But this justice is partial,” said a statement issued by the Mahasabha.

“We want guilty cops to be identified and punished. It took more than a year for
the police to lodge an FIR of Jiramani Devi, showing its real attitude towards the
tribals.

“This case has again shown how innocent tribals are victims of fake cases/fake encounters/state repression and how difficult it is for their families to get justice. It is a long struggle to register just one FIR against the guilty police and security forces,” said Elena Horo, a member of the Mahasabha.

“Apart from the compensation amount directed by the court, the state government should give an additional compensation of Rs 5 lakh or an opportunity of livelihood on compassionate grounds for Jiramani as her husband was the sole breadwinner.

“Clear instructions should be given to the local police that the victims should not
face any difficulty in registering an FIR against the culprits, especially the police and
administrative officials,” added Horo.