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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Maoist hand in Drèze aide’s death

Maoist hand in Drèze aide’s death

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published Published on Mar 3, 2011   modified Modified on Mar 3, 2011

Two aides of economist Jean Drèze were targeted by unscrupulous contractors, suspected to have been backed by Maoists, for exposing rampant corruption in the Centre’s flagship rural job scheme in a Latehar village late last night.

Niyamat Ansari died after he was beaten up mercilessly by a 12-member gang at Jerua village, 130km from the state capital, but his friend and colleague Bhukan Singh had a narrow escape as he wasn’t home when the rebel-backed group went over to his house in search.

Both Ansari — the block convener of Gram Swaraj Abhiyan and MGNREGS Sahayata Kendra — and Singh had hit headlines on February 20, when they detected financial irregularities in two projects at Rankikala village in Manika block of the district and lodged an FIR against former BDO Kailash Sahu. More than Rs 2 lakh were recovered from Sahu and his accomplices during raids that followed.

Sources said Ansari had survived an earlier attempt on his life as his crusade had made him a target of corrupt contractors.

“While the BDO and a panchayat sevak were caught because their names were on the fudged records, it is strongly suspected that the real mastermind behind the scam is local contractor Shankar Dubey who enjoys considerable political clout. His involvement in the killing should be probed,” an MGNREGS activist alleged, requesting anonymity.

Ansari and Singh were also not in the good books of Maoists. On July 7, 2010, rebels had warned both of dire consequences in posters. The MGNREGS exposures may have blocked levy flow to Maoists, prompting retribution.

Around 10.30pm yesterday, the group of 12 men apparently patronised by Maoists descended on Ansari’s native village of Jerua in Manika police station area of Latehar.

They dragged Ansari out of his house and beat him with sticks till he collapsed.

The group then targeted Singh’s residence. Fortunately, Singh wasn’t in. “The men questioned his wife and son on his whereabouts and warned them that animosity with people in power would cost them heavy,” a Jerua villager said, requesting anonymity.

After the assailants left, a grievously injured Ansari was rushed to the local primary health centre. He was immediately referred to Latehar Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

Police spokesperson and IG(operations) Raj Kumar Mallick did not agree to Maoist involvement in the killing. “Primary investigations suggest that the murder is a result of rivalry between two village groups — the Van Raksha Samiti and the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan led by Niyamat Ansari,” he said.

However, SP Kuldeep Dwivedi confirmed that an FIR against a Maoist leader had been registered by Ansari’s sister this morning. “Eight persons, including Maoist leader Sudarshanji, have been named in the FIR. We have started investigations,” he said.

Later in the day, Manika police lodged another FIR against contractor Shankar Dubey and six of his associates.

Dwivedi said a police team was raiding all possible locations for the accused with help from Singh.

Reacting to the incident, Drèze, who is also a member of the National Advisory Council, did not rule out Maoist role in the killing, but said “passivity” of the government was unacceptable. “This is not the first time an activist has been killed. The state should act more swiftly to plug loopholes in implementation of MGNREGS and ensure action against fraudulent practices involving criminal elements,” he said.

The Latehar killing had repercussions in Ranchi, where social activists like Balram, Gurjeet Singh and Stan Swamy staged protests at Albert Ekka Chowk, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.

MGNREGS is the Centre’s flagship scheme for the poor that aims to enhance the livelihood security of people in rural belts by guaranteeing 100 days of wage-employment in a financial year to every household. Unfortunately, the ambitious venture has been marred by rampant corruption in the state, giving rise to crusaders like Ansari.

Ansari is not the first one to pay capital penalty for taking up cudgels for the poor. Three years ago, another MGNREGS activist and Drèze follower was killed by unidentified people in neighbouring Palamau district, triggering widespread protests.

The Telegraph, 4 March, 2011, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110304/jsp/frontpage/story_13665571.jsp


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