Ranchi, June 15: The Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker from Godda, Nishikant Dubey, said he would be funding the legal expenses of the four accused charge-sheeted from his home district of lynching two alleged buffalo thiefs to death.

Dubey, while justifying his decision to bear the cost of the accused men's defence counsel, said the entire village was behind the assault. While speaking to reporters, he said, "Why are these four people being singled out just because their cattle was stolen?"

The lynching in Godda was reported earlier in the week. Two FIRs have been filed in the case -- one against Munsi Murmu for allegedly stealing cattle with his accomplices, and second against Kameshwar Soren, Kishan Rai and Bhukul Kishku for murdering two among the alleged thieves.

The deceased have been identified as Murtaza Ansari and Charku Ansari. The former's father, Imran Ansari, has rejected the cattle-theft charge being levelled against his late son, calling it a ploy to justify the communal murder.

Godda Superintendent of Police Rajiv Ranjan, however, reportedly said that the deceased were involved in cases of cattle stealing earlier as well.

While the BJP MP has backed the key accused, Godda legislator Pradeep Yadav, who represents the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, has refrained from taking sides. While speaking to a leading English daily, Yadav said he is collecting information from the ground and taking inputs from the locals.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 15, 2018 05:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).