Ranchi, January 22: A day after seven tribals were killed for allegedly protesting the Pathalgadi movement in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday ordered to form Special Investigation Team to investigate the matter. The came after Soren held a high-level meeting with Director General of Police (DGP), and other top officers. Chhattisgarh: Seven Naxals Killed by Security Forces in Encounter in Rajnandgaon.

The Jharkhand CM assured strict and unbiased action. Speaking to reporters, he said, “The government doesn't give the right to anyone to take law in their hands. Lots of rumours are being spread, but the government will take strict and unbiased action.”

Hemant Soren's Tweet:

Earlier in the day, seven people who were allegedly abducted by Patthalgari supporters in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district were found dead. According to the police, the dead bodies have been recovered from the jungle after 24 hours of search operation.

On January 19, a meeting was convened by Patthalgari supporters at Burugulikela village. James Bhud, Deputy Pramukh of Gulikela Panchayat opposed the Patthalgari supporters. He was allegedly abducted along with six people on the same day. Hemant Soren Drops Pathalgadi Sedition Cases Against Tribals in a First Move After Taking Oath as Jharkhand CM.

When they did not return on Monday, the family members lodged a complaint with the police, suspecting the worst. On Tuesday, news spread that they have been killed. Police, launched a search operation on Tuesday, and recovered the dead bodies on Wednesday. Their bodies were then sent to post-mortem.

Patthalgari is a tribal custom in which stone is fixed at a certain place to demarcate the boundary. The Patthalgari was used to protest the amendment in two land Acts, brought by the BJP government in 2016. The stone was used as a mark of protest to write slogans against the government's polices. Hundreds of people were booked for supporting Patthalgari against the government. Even sedition charges were slapped and many arrested. Soren in its first cabinet meeting, withdrew the cases related to Patthalgari.

(With inputs from IANS)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 22, 2020 08:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).