Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Middlemen watched activist die

Middlemen watched activist die

Share this article Share this article
published Published on May 22, 2011   modified Modified on May 22, 2011
-The Telegraph
 
Rural job scheme activist Niyamat Ansari was beaten to death by Maoists as a group of middlemen stood and watched, a report on the March 2 killing has pointed out, indicating once again that implementation of MGNREGS in Jharkhand leaves a lot to be desired.

Armed with the report, a committee constituted by Union rural development ministry today met chief minister Arjun Munda and his deputy Sudesh Mahto, requesting them to ensure corruption-free implementation of the job scheme and iterated the Centre’s pending demand for instituting a CBI probe into the killing of Ansari in Latehar and labourer Subal Mahto in Chas, Bokaro.

Handing over a letter to Munda, one of the key members of the committee, Aruna Roy — also member, National Advisory Council (NAC) — asked him to provide security for all activists working to free MGNREGS from the clutches of corrupt middlemen.

“It is not possible for the local police to conduct an inquiry into the murder of Niyamat. People want to know the truth in the case. Hence, the demand for a CBI probe,” Roy said.

The CBI probe demand is not new. In March, after the murders of Niyamat, an aide of noted economist Jean Drèze, who is also a part of the committee, and Subal, the Centre had requested the state to allow the investigating agency to conduct the probe.

But Jharkhand is yet to respond. State MGNREGS commissioner Ajoy Kumar Singh had admitted to The Telegraph last month that the proposal was pending with the state government.

Apart from Roy, the committee formed by the Centre comprises retired IAS Lalit Mathur, NAC joint secretary K. Raju and social activist Nikhil Dey. Today, Drèze, too, joined them while they were meeting the deputy chief minister.

The committee has sought compensation of Rs 10 lakh for Niyamat’s family and government jobs for his wife Nuresha Biwi and sister Sayeeda Biwi since the family has been left with no earning member.

Yesterday, the committee held a meeting with state rural development secretary R.S. Poddar, MGNREGS commissioner Singh and deputy commissioners of Latehar, Bokaro and Ranchi districts in the state capital.

Roy and the other activists also met NGOs and civil society groups.

Commissioned by the activists to get to the bottom of Niyamat’s killing, the report was prepared by former president of Palamau District Bar Association Nand Lal Singh and journalist Gokul Basant.

The two also looked into allegations, levelled by Maoists, that Niyamat and another activist were involved in illegal land deals and had collected money from villagers as donation.

But, they found these allegations to be untrue.

“Maoists had levelled charges that Niyamat and fellow activist Bhukhan Singh had collected Rs 13 lakh from villagers as chanda or donation. They also had accused Niyamat of attempting human — a boy — sacrifice. All these have been found baseless,” Nand Lal said.

Basant revealed that Maoists had called Niyamat for a jan adalat on July 7, 2010. He did not attend, though his wife and children did. “The adalat was convened by Maoists on the request of middlemen, who were involved in his killing,” he added.

The Telegraph, 19 May, 2011, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110519/jsp/frontpage/story_14000789.jsp


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close