Government abandoned us after fulfilling half its promises: Ramgarh lynch victim’s wife

  • | Friday | 15th February, 2019

Exactly a year after Alimuddin’s murder, nine of the convicts were released on bail. “The government abandoned us after fulfilling half the promises it made. We don’t know how long it will last,” says Mariam Khatoon , Alimuddin’s wife.She recalls the promises made soon after the incident hit the headlines. We had to spend Rs 1 lakh on construction of the house. JMM working president Hemant Soren , during his Sangharsh Yatra rally here, raked up the issue of beef-related killings in the state.

Ramgarh: What is the value of a life lost to cow vigilantism ? Rs 5 lakh and a two-room house under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, if one were to go by the Jharkhand government’s compensation for the family of Alimuddin Ansari , killed by a mob of cow vigilantes for carrying beef Alimuddin’s murder in 2017 was the third such killing in the state since 2005, when Jharkhand banned cattle slaughter and sale of beef. Enforcement of the law was taken up by gau raksha samitis (cow protection groups), further bolstered by a central notification in 2017 regulating the sale of cattle.“What will we do with Rs 5 lakh? We had to spend Rs 1 lakh on construction of the house. The money left with us is being spent on daily necessities. We don’t know how long it will last,” says Mariam Khatoon , Alimuddin’s wife.She recalls the promises made soon after the incident hit the headlines. “The government abandoned us after fulfilling half the promises it made. We were assured jobs and a ration shop (under the Public Distribution System), but nothing has happened till now. I used to keep doing the rounds of government offices. But I have stopped now,” she says. It is not about monetary compensation, she adds, but having a stable source of income.After the death of Alimuddin, their son Shahzad had taken on work to shoulder some of the financial responsibilities. On January 24 this year, he died after complaining of headache. Her daughter, Saba (19), has dropped out of college while her other children — Shahban (19), Shahbaz (18) and Sajya Parween (14) — are studying. “I want to make them all study, but since we have no resources, my children don’t want to continue. I am trying to convince them,” Mariam says. Ramgarh deputy commissioner Rajeshwari B didn’t receive calls from TOI despite repeated attempts while deputy development commissioner Sanjay Sinha feigned ignorance on the issue or commitments made to THE family by the administration in the past. "I have been posted in the district only five months ago," Sinha said, passing the buck on additional collector Jugnu Minz. Minz, too, excused himself from commenting on the matter. “I need to check files before making any comments," he said.As for justice, all hopes appear distant.Last year in March, 11 people — including a local BJP leader — were convicted by a fast-track court for the murder. The government claimed a victory by saying it was the “fastest” disposal of such a case and the first such verdict. The celebrations did not last. Exactly a year after Alimuddin’s murder, nine of the convicts were released on bail. The day they got out, they were greeted by Union minister Jayant Sinha with garlands.For the opposition, too, it has been a matter of optics — condemning the turn the case took and promising justice. JMM working president Hemant Soren , during his Sangharsh Yatra rally here, raked up the issue of beef-related killings in the state. Mariam does not count on much help. “Every party is using this issue. But no one has said anything concrete on how they will bail us out,” Mariam says, before heading off for her noon prayer.

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