Jharkhand Adivasi Professor Jeetrai Hansda Arrested For 2017 Facebook Post Advocating 'Right To Eat Beef'

Ranchi, May 26: A prominent Adivasi activist Jeetrai Hansda was arrested on Saturday for his Facebook post defending his community’s ‘right to eat beef’. Hansda is a professor at the Government School and College for Women in the village of Sakchi in Jharkhand’s Jamshedpur district, reported HuffPost India.  He was arrested on the basis of a complaint filed against him in June 2017 allegedly by Akhil Bharati Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Assam Shocker: Mob Attacks Muslim Man for Selling Beef, Forces Him to Eat Pork.

A lawyer handling Hansda’s case told the news website that he suspects the arrest was made two years after the complaint was lodged as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not want to anger Adivasi communities before the General Elections. The saffron party had won 12 seats out of 14 in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The college of the Adivasi activist is affiliated to Kolhan University. Babul Supriyo Says 'I Eat Beef'; BJP Minister Calls Rahul Gandhi a 'Cranky' Leader.

As per the FIR lodged at the Sakchi police station, Hansda in his Facebook post asserted that tradition of eating beef and conducting ceremonial cow sacrifice of Adivasi communities. He further added that it was Adviasis’ democratic and cultural right to consume beef. The Adivasi activist also mentioned his unwillingness to follow Hindu customs. After the complaint was filed against Hansda, Dasmath Hansdah, the chief of Majhi Pargana Mahal wrote to the vice-chancellor of Kolhan University in support of the activist.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 26, 2019 06:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).