Ensure justice for murdered Muslims, CPI-M tells NHRC

CPI-M leader Brinda Karat on Monday urged the NHRC to ensure justice to the families of two Muslims lynched in Jharkhand.

In a letter to National Human Rights Commission chairperson Justice H.L. Dattu (retd) and other members, Karat said no action has been taken against the killers of Imtiyaz Khan, 12, and Majlum, 32, a cattle trader.

She said their bodies, "with marks which are witness to the terrible beatings they received, were found hanging from a tree" on March 18. They were taking cattle to a cattle fair when they were waylaid.

Eight people have been arrested for the double murder.

Karat said that after a CPI-M delegation met the Jharkhand chief minister, he announced a compensation of Rs.1 lakh to the two families.

This, the CPI-M leader said, was like "adding insult to injury".

"Clearly the government must ensure adequate compensation and employment to at least one parent of Imtiyaz and to the wife of Majlum if they are not to become destitute," the letter said.

"It is a case not just of two persons being hanged to death by a lynch mob, but the Constitution of India itself that is being hanged.

"This is a case which requires the direct intervention of the NHRC," Karat added.