Ramgarh: Alimuddin Ansari was lynched in the heart of Ramgarh town almost a year back. Since then, a lot has transpired, right from the accused being convicted to them getting a bail and a Union Minister inviting the flak for garlanding those out on bail. However, amid all, the Ramgarh district administration has been unsuccessful in ascertaining Alimuddin’s place of death, in these 390 days, since he has been lynched to death on suspicion of carrying beef.
Yes, believe it or not, the Ramgarh police have been unsuccessful to ascertain the place where Alimuddin had breathed his last, and because of it, the district administration has not issued his death certificate, till date.
Despite, Alimuddin, a resident of Hesla (Manua) village, Ramgarh block and Ramgarh district of Jharkhand, being brutally lynched by the gau rakshaks (cow vigilantes) at a marketplace in Ramgarh on June 29, 2017 and his killers getting sentenced to life imprisonment, his assailants have been in ways appreciated by politicians. Most of the accused have been granted bail and interestingly, have been garlanded by Minister for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha, a Harvard Business School alumni. However, amid all Alimuddin’s widow is yet to get his death certificate even after a year.
On that fateful day, Alimuddin who was carrying meat in his van was chased by some gau rakhshaks who later lynched him at a market called Bazaar Tand, located in the heart of the town. The entire act of lynching was recorded and was later made viral on social media. And when the police arrived, the victim was alive and was taken to RIMS, Ranchi, where it was officially documented that Alimuddin had succumbed to his injuries while being taken to the hospital.
“His postmortem was done at RIMS. However, when we were handed the post-mortem report, we saw that ‘unknown’ had been written in name and address section of the report. Later, we submitted an affidavit, and then the hospital authorities wrote a separate paragraph to mention my father’s name and address,” said Sajjad Ansari, the elder son of Alimuddin.
The autopsy report, however, in general never mentions the place of death of the deceased.
Ironically, Ramgarh police officials who took Alimuddin to RIMS in their police vehicle, in this one year have been unable to ascertain the place where Alimuddin breathed his last while being ferried to Ranchi from Ramgarh.
“Since my husband got murdered, I have visited Ramgarh police station several times. Each time they have simply maintained that they are not sure of the place where he had died, hence were not being able to issue any letter in this regard. I also went to Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), but he also passed on the buck to the Ramgarh police, saying that they would issue it,” rued Mariam Khatoon, widow of Alimuddin Ansari, who has been running from pillar to post to get his death certificate issued.
Without Alimuddin’s death certificate family is not being able to make claim against government promises made to them.
“Without his death certificate, we have been unable to claim for the government job and ration shop, which had been promised by the state administration,” she said.
Ramgarh court, which convicted the 11 accused, for life on March 21 earlier this year, had also ordered the District Legal Service Authority (DLSA) to compensate the family within two months. But the family is yet to get any compensation.
“Tired of approaching the police, I decided to meet deputy commissioner Rajeshwari B. She took a week’s time, following which I approached her again, she then took an extension of another week, which has just ended,” added Mariam.
When Rajeshwari B, DC, Ramgarh was contacted, she told to eNewsroom, “Death certificate could not be issued as the police could not ascertain Alimuddin’s place of death.” On being questioned, if it was a deliberate act, as so many people die on their way to the hospital and have their mortal remains in the police custody and still have their death certificates issued.
She replied, “We cannot comment on the same. But now we have found a solution to this. We will be asking the ward councillor of the area, where Alimuddin has been buried to give a written statement and on basis of that document we shall be issuing the death certificate of Alimuddin. I am in touch with his widow and it will have it done soon.”
The counsel of Alimuddin’s family, Shadab Ansari however, added, “The family has decided to file a writ petition before the court, seeking its intervention, in case the death certificate is not issued this time.”
Significantly, Alimuddin was lynched on a day, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had condemned the killings taking place across India in the name of cow worship and had maintained that it is not acceptable. Still, Jharkhand police has failed to document the information, which is vital for deceased’s family.
