Jharkhand / Dumka : Last farewell to Ankita amidst sorrow and anger, apart from Shahrukh, why anger at police officer Noor Mustafa

The news of Ankita’s death by Shahrukh sprinkling petrol sparked anger among people in Dumka. Fighting between life and death for five days, Ankita succumbed to her injuries at RIMS around 2 pm on Saturday. As soon as morning, this news spread like fire in the city. Dumka boiled on Sunday. Meanwhile, Ankita was cremated on Monday morning amid tight security arrangements. Thousands gathered for the funeral procession and he was given a final farewell amidst sorrow and anger. Dumka MP Sunil Soren also attended the funeral procession.

Politics has also intensified regarding the Ankita murder case. While the BJP has surrounded the Hemant Soren government, questions are also being raised about the allegation of bias against police officer Noor Mustafa. BJP MP from Godda Nishikant Dubey tweeted, “We couldn’t save Dumka’s daughter. The Chief Minister and the clan kept on partying. Now the game of section 144 and sending and harassing the common people is going on. The government of the state which could not be serious on the honor and respect of women, the public will never take that government seriously. We will not rest till the arrest of the accused and the dismissal of Noor Mustafa.

Dumka remained closed, anger everywhere
People were agitated since the day of the petrol burning incident on 23 August. Now on hearing the news of the death, people gathered at Ankita’s residence in Jaruwadih. Along with the people of the locality, there was a mobilization of the workers of District BJP Mahila Morcha, Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and BJYM. The closure of Dumka was announced. From around 11 o’clock, angry people started demonstrations in the city in protest against the police administration and demanding the hanging of Shahrukh, accused of Ankita’s murder. From Ankita’s locality Jaruwadih to Dudhani Tower Chowk, people kept on dharna-demonstration and sloganeering against the police. There is a lot of anger among the people against the accused Shahrukh. The protesters had huge support from the common people. Shops were closing automatically during the Dumka bandh. The few shops that were open were also closed by the protesters. The procession and demonstration taken out in the city to demand the hanging of Shahrukh and to improve the law and order in Dumka was mainly led by the district president of BJP Mahila Morcha. Neetu Jha, Vishwa Hindu Parishad District President Mithilesh Kumar and BJP Yuva Morcha General Secretary Aman Kumar were doing the same. The protesters demanded that Shahrukh, the killer of Ankita, should be given the death penalty by conducting a hearing in the fast track court.

Increased concern of the police
Security increased in Jaruwadih, police and administration were on alert in view of public outrage after Ankita’s death, flag march in the city. In the morning itself, the in-charge of the city police station, Nitish Kumar reached Ankita’s house with Dalbal. Police forces were deployed in large numbers in Jaruwadih. A flag march was taken out by the administration in the city, which was led by Civil SDO Maheshwar Mahato and DSP Vijay Kumar. On the occasion, BDO Rajesh Kumar Sinha, CO Yamun Ravi Das as well as city police station in-charge Nitish Kumar, Sadar Inspector Devvrat Poddar and a large number of police officers and jawans were involved as magistrates.

Section 144 enforced
Prohibition on organizing procession and rally, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Maheshwar Mahato has imposed prohibitory orders in Dumka under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure till further orders. Under this, the gathering of 5 or more people will be completely prohibited. Without any prior permission, any type of dharna, public gathering, religious gathering, mass banquet, procession and rally will be strictly prohibited. Persons violating these instructions will be punished under relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act 2005 and section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Strict legal action will be taken against those who violate the order.

The dead body reached Dumka at 9.15 pm, the atmosphere inconsolable
The body of Ankita Kumari, who was burnt to death by petrol, was brought to her Jaruwadih Shit home amidst tight security at around 9.15 pm on Sunday. As soon as the dead body arrived, the atmosphere became gloomy. Ankita’s grandparents were waiting for the dead body in the house. Father, sister and brother-in-law were already in Ranchi who reached here with the dead body. Along with this, a good number of people of Jaruwadih locality and social workers of the city were present. Dumka Deputy Commissioner Ravi Shankar Shukla and SP Amber Lakra also reached the house and took stock of the security arrangements and law and order.

Police force deployed in large numbers
In view of the anger and tension among the people in Dumka city on Sunday after Ankita’s death, security arrangements have been tightened in the city. A large number of armed forces have been deployed in Jaruwadih, the locality of Ankita and Shahrukh. A large number of police forces have been deployed in Dumka town and the adjoining areas of the city along with the old Dumka Panchayat area including Dangalpara. Police force is also deployed at all major intersections of Dumka city. Police patrol has also been intensified.

Slogans raised against SDPO Noor Mustafa
The agitated people were very angry towards the Dumka police. During the Dudhani Tower Chowk demonstration, angry people also raised slogans against Dumka SDPO Noor Mustafa Ansari, accusing the police of bias. It is alleged that while registering the case, the SDPO told Ankita to be an adult while she was a minor. Angry people were demanding suspension of SDPO Noor Mustafa Ansari and hanging of Shahrukh, accused of Ankita murder case.

Will keep awakening the society for justice to Ankita: Neetu Jha
Neetu Jha, district president of BJP Mahila Morcha, said in a conversation with the journalists that these protests are rising above the party line. As a mother and a sister, we are on the road to get justice for Ankita. If action is not taken in the matter within a week, then we will hit the road again. Neetu Jha said that until Ankita gets justice, she will continue to wake up the entire society as a sister.