New Delhi, April 29: Several Opposition parties today demanded that a Rajya Sabha panel be set up to look into the alleged hanging in Jharkhand of two cattle traders from the minority community.

The parties expressed displeasure over the Centre's "casual" response to the incident, reported to have happened in Jharkhand's Latehar district on March 18. The issue was raised by JDU leader Gulam Rasool Balyawi during zero hour.

Balyawi claimed Majloon Ansari, 35, and Imtiyaz Khan, 14, of Nawada village were stopped and thrashed by activists of "right-wing organisations" when they were leading their buffalos and bullocks to a nearby market. He said they were subsequently "hanged" but did not give details.

The MP claimed police had misbehaved with Ansari's family members and dubbed them "Pakistanis" for demanding action against the killers. It is not known whether the two cattle-sellers were related.

Since the incident, the minority community has been running scared, people are being attacked and their houses burnt in several areas in Jharkhand, Balyawi claimed.

"The chief minister does not consider minorities human beings. A police officer pulled Ansari's brother's beard and called them Pakistanis," he alleged.

Junior parliamentary affairs minister M.A. Naqvi wondered if Balyawi's claims were true. "What is the truth in these allegations? I will take up the issue with the state government," he said, demanding a discussion in the House.

Rajya Sabha deputy chairman P.J. Kurien said what Balyawi had said should be accepted at face value.

Minority affairs minister Najma Heptulla said she would write to the Jharkhand chief minister, Raghubar Das. "We will get the facts. If this has happened, it is bad. I appeal to the members not to be emotional."

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad accused the government of failing to protect minorities. He said it was unfortunate Naqvi was casting aspersions on what Balyawi had said.

As the matter created a furore in the Rajya Sabha, Congress and JDU MPs rushed into the well, raising slogans: "Jharkhand sarkar barkhast karo (Dismiss the Jharkhand government)."

CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said the Centre did not appear serious about the "hanging" as it had happened over a month ago. "Now the minister says she will write to the chief minister. This government is guilty of complicity...."

He said such an incident undermined the country's secular fabric and it was no longer a state issue. He appealed to the Chair to set up a House committee.

JDU leader Sharad Yadav backed the demand, saying the government's response had been very "casual".

Azad said a House committee had been set up to visit Mumbai after riots broke out following the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition.

"There are precedents of House committees being set up. Similarly, an all-party committee should be set up to visit Jharkhand," he said.

Kurien said he would convey the demand to the chairman, Hamid Ansari, for consideration. The House was adjourned briefly because of the Opposition ruckus.

Balyawi later told this newspaper that trading of bullocks and buffalos was allowed in Jharkhand. He said no action had been taken against the police officer, Ratan Singh, who had misbehaved with Ansari's family.

"There should be a CBI inquiry into the case. One or two persons have been arrested but charged under provisions with lenient penalty," Balyawi said.