RANCHI: Social Activist Swami Agnivesh, who was allegedly attacked by Bhartiya Yuva Janata Morcha (BJYM) workers in Pakur on Tuesday, has termed the incident as a pre-planned conspiracy by the State Government and demanded a judicial inquiry into the matter either by a sitting or retired Judge of High Court.
Earlier on Wednesday, Swami reached here in the morning by train following which, leader of Opposition parties, including former Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha Chief Babulal Marandi, thronged in to express solidarity towards him.
"It was a pre-planned conspiracy of the State Government, as Chief Minister Raghubar Das, as well as District Administration in Pakur, had all information of my visit on Tuesday but no security arrangements were made in this regard. It was a responsibility of the District Administration to take preventive measures or they should have alerted me beforehand," said Swami Agnivesh.
He also termed it an intelligence failure on the part of State Government that they could not make out that such an incident might take place during his visit, he added.
"The lynching mob had planned to kill me, but despite giving names of around 8-10 people involved in the incident by my supporters in Pakur, none of them has been arrested so far. Those who were arrested are said to have been released within 10-15 minutes," said the Swami.
He alleged that he was beaten up by several dozen people and will go to All India Medical Sciences in Delhi for a medical checkup. "I want a judicial inquiry into the matter by a sitting or retired judge of a High Court as the circumstances indicate towards a pre-planned conspiracy by the State Government," he said.
Swami, however, said that he was not discouraged by such incident and will go to Pakur again to hear the problems of 'Paharia' community. The Swami also warned the Opposition parties in Jharkhand to get united in time otherwise fascist forces in the State will finish all of them.
Former Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, condemning the incident, demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise in public for the incident. Former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, however, called it an attack on democracy as police have failed to arrest any of the BJYM workers involved in the incident.
"It was a pre-planned conspiracy by the State Government to suppress the voice of the poor and downtrodden in the State," said Marandi. Meanwhile, named FIR against 8 persons along with 92 un-identified others have been lodged at Town Police Station in Pakur by Jai Malto of Littipara Block under sections - 147, 148, 149, 323, 307, 379, 472 and ST Act as well.
"All those who have been named in the FIR are workers of BJYM including its President - Prasanna Mishra. None of the accused has been arrested so far and efforts are being made to nab them by forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by DSP Ashok Singh," said Circle Inspector of Town Police Station Shiv Shankar Tiwari.
Jai Malto in his statement stated that BJYM workers teased them indicating towards their caste and started beating them brutally as soon as they came of Hotel Muskan with Swami Agnivesh, he added. Those who have been named in the FIR are - Pakur BJYM President Prasanna Mishra, State Secretary of Bhartiya Kisan Morcha Anand Kumar Tiwari and other workers of BJYM Pintu Mandal, Ashok Kumar, Gopi Dubey, Balram Dubey, Shiv Kumar Saha and Badal Mandal.
Swami Agnivesh was allegedly manhandled by BJYM and ABVP workers in Pakur on Tuesday and was shown black flags for making some anti-Hindu remarks and provoking the tribal community a few days back. Chief Minister Raghubar Das has ordered Chief Secretary Sudhir Tripathy to get the matter investigated by Commissioner and DIG of Santhal Pargana and submit a report as soon as possible.