Relatives of two cattle traders who were killed in Jharkhand’s Latehar district by suspected cow protection vigilantes in March 2016 have claimed threat to their lives and urged the State High Court not to grant bail to the killers who were convicted by the trial court last week.
Eight persons were sentenced to life imprisonment on December 21 for beating to death Majlum Ansari (32) and Imtiaz Khan (12), who were reportedly taking their cattle to a village fair for sale, and hanging their bodies from a tree on March 17, 2016.
Those convicted in the case are Manoj Sahu, Pramod Sao, Awadhesh Sao, Mithilesh Sao, Manoj Kumar Sao, Arun Sao, Sahadev Soni and Bishal Tiwari.
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At a press conference on Wednesday, Majlum’s wife Saira Bibi and elder brother Afzal said the killers had threatened the relatives of the victims with dire consequences. Afzal said the family had been going through tough times after the murder of Majlum, a father of five children.
Imtiaz’s parents Azad Khan and Nazma Bibi said their lives were shattered after the death of their 12-year-old son. Imtiaz, a Class VI student, used to assist his father in his business.
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Afraid of further attacks, Azad Khan shut his shop and his younger son dropped out of school.
Nazma Bibi said the family did not even have enough money to get their two daughters married.
“I request the government to provide proper security to my family. Also, the State government should provide financial assistance and a job to us,” Nazma Bibi added.
The relatives said they had not got enough compensation from the government. The two families refused to accept cheques for ₹1 lakh each from the local administration as the amount was too little.
They demanded government job for one member of each family, apart from appropriate compensation.