Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari met families after the bodies of three cousins were recovered from Pouta forest in Hazaribag. He directed Superintendent of Police Aman Kumar to expedite the investigation, confirm the cause of death, and arrest those responsible. An FIR has been filed and police say identification of suspects is underway.
India
-Krishna Kripa
Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari met relatives of three young people whose bodies were found in a forest. Officials said Ansari assured the families that justice would be delivered. Soon after, two reporters were allegedly manhandled at a hospital event. The incident followed questions put to the minister during a media interaction.
Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari met families after the bodies of three cousins were recovered from Pouta forest in Hazaribag. He directed Superintendent of Police Aman Kumar to expedite the investigation, confirm the cause of death, and arrest those responsible. An FIR has been filed and police say identification of suspects is underway.
Police recovered the bodies of Adil Hussain, 25, Shania Perven, 19, and Khushi Perven, 21, on Monday. All three were cousins and were suspected to have been murdered. The bodies were found in Pouta forest. The area falls under Hazaribag Mufassil police station limits.
Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari directs police in Hazaribag case
After meeting the bereaved families at Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College and Hospital, Ansari spoke to police. Ansari directed Hazaribag Superintendent of Police Aman Kumar to speed up the probe. The aim was to confirm the cause of death. Ansari also asked police to arrest those responsible.
The SP told the minister that an FIR had been registered and a probe was ongoing. The SP also said the culprits would be identified. The SP added that action would follow once the investigation advanced. Officials did not share further details about possible suspects or the exact sequence of events.
Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari faces questions; reporters allegedly assaulted
As Ansari was leaving the hospital, some reporters asked about the absence during Ram Navami festivities. Ansari called the query irrelevant. Another journalist asked about the delay in compensation. The question referred to families of victims of an air ambulance crash in Chatra in February.
Ansari said the government would provide compensation soon. Meanwhile, two reporters at Ansari’s programme were allegedly manhandled. The alleged assault was linked to questions posed to the minister. The accused were described as members of the bereaved families. Ansari left the hospital shortly after the incident.
Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari incident draws Press Club response
The Hazaribag Press Club called the incident unfortunate and condemned the alleged assault. Press Club president Murari Singh said an attack on journalists during a ministerial visit was shameful. Secretary Deepak Singh alleged the assault was premeditated. Deepak Singh said one reporter was injured and admitted to hospital.
Deepak Singh warned of agitation if those involved were not arrested. In a social media post later, Ansari said the victims’ families were in shock. Ansari said they reacted to irrelevant questions. Ansari also alleged attempts by the BJP to link Ansari to the incident.
Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Babulal Marandi demanded an FIR against the minister. Babulal Marandi alleged the attack on reporters was orchestrated by Ansari’s supporters. Police continued the investigation into the three deaths. The situation also left journalists seeking action over the alleged assault at the hospital.
With inputs from PTI
