In a brutal incident, 25-year-old Sujit Soni (named Sujit Swarnkar in NPG News), the Bajrang Dal district co-convenor of Balrampur, Chattisgarh, was found dead on the night of 26 May. The body of a young woman was also found near Sujit’s body. His father, Nandlal Soni, is a big businessman in Balrampur. The bodies of Sujit and the woman were found a short distance from the Dumarkhi Dhaba on National Highway 343, passing through the Dumarkhi forest on the Balrampur – Ambikapur main road. The young woman was identified as 20-year-old Kiran Kashi, a resident of Balrampur.
Initial reports of gruesome murder
A report by Dainik Bhaskar suggests that the body of Sujit was found in a badly beaten condition with broken bones and signs indicating attempts to slit his throat. Later, the body was supposedly thrown into the forest 100 meters away from Dumarkhi Dhaba. Initially, the police had said that after killing the boy and girl, an attempt was also made to burn their bodies. It was suspected that this case could be related to cow smuggling gangs. The police had said that they would investigate the case from every angle. But the story took a different twist later.
New theory: Electrocution by live wires laid for animals
As soon as the information about the bodies of the young man and woman was received, the Balrampur police, dog squad and forensic expert team reached the spot and started the investigation. A new twist came in this case when the post-mortem report confirmed that both of them died due to electric shock. After this, the direction of the police investigation changed.
Police arrested 3 people in this case and said that these accused had laid live wires in the Dumrakhi forest to hunt wild animals. According to the police, these accused have confessed their crime. Also, wires, pegs, sticks and other items have been recovered from the place they mentioned. However, Hindu organizations and other city residents are not satisfied with the actions taken by the police. They protested by blocking the roads and accusing the police of whitewashing the murder case. During this, tyres were burnt to protest.
Meanwhile, State Minister Ramvichar Netam has issued a press release on this matter. He has said that this incident is sad. “If the victim’s family is unsatisfied with the police investigation in this case, then a high-level investigation will be conducted. Along with this, all possible help will be provided”, he said.
Bajrang Dal rejects the story presented by the police, claiming Sujit was murdered
Bajrang Dal officials, workers, and the city’s residents expressed disbelief in the police theory presented while revealing the case. On Thursday (30 May 2024), they protested by burning tyres on the National Highway, accusing the police of covering up the case. This led to a long queue of vehicles on both sides of the road.
The situation remained the same until late evening. They said that the police were trying to cover up the whole matter. Seeing the protest, SSP Dr Lal Umed Singh also reached the spot and tried to convince the people, but they did not listen.
The protesters sat in a tented pandal at Chando Chowk till late evening, disrupting traffic. The protesters were also angry about the fact that despite the death of two people, Agriculture Minister Ramvichar Netam did not come to Balrampur. Meanwhile, the police used mild force at 8:30 pm to disperse the protesters. Their tented pandal was also uprooted.
It is said that the Bajrang Dal leaders were constantly raising their voices against cow smugglers. They had also received death threats in this regard. The then SP was also informed of the same. It is alleged that the cow smugglers killed Sujit and the girl, and it is being falsely presented that the crime took place due to a love affair. Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal wrote to the Chief Minister and State administration of Chattisgarh in this matter.
(Featured image source: Patrika)
