Palghar lynching: Investigators turn to public for info on absconding accused

Sandhya Nair | TNN | May 1, 2020, 21:05 IST

Representative image.

MUMBAI: The state Crime Investigation Department (CID) probing the lynching of three men, including two sadhus, last month, has sought information about the absconding tribals from the public.
A total of 115 tribals from Gadchinchale village in Kasa, including nine minors have been arrested. Police are on the look-out for over 500 tribals from the village who have fled after the incident took place on April 16.
The state CID has appealed to the public to share any information about the absconding suspects. The investigators are also looking for videos and photographs of the lynching incident that may be available with the public and has not made it to the investigators table.
Police are questioning the accused who are lodged in various police stations in the district. Massive combing operations are in in the nearby jungles where the suspects are believed to be hiding. Many are feared to have escaped to neighbouring Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Gujarat.
Those keen on sharing information about the lynching incident and suspects can email on cidkon-mum@mahapolice.gov.in or call on 9870437786. The identities of the informants will be kept confidential.
The sadhus Chikne Maharaj Kalpvirkshagiri (70), Sushilgiri Maharaj (35) and their driver Nilesh Telgade (30) were lynched by a mob of over 500 tribals. They were heading from Kandivli to Surat for a funeral.
The counsel for the victims' advocate Arun Upadhaya has demanded police case against the Kasa cops for failing to protect the victims. In an email to the Palghar superintendent of police Gaurav Singh, Upadhaya sought dismissal of the cops and asked for a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe. Five cops have been suspended and 35 transferred. Upadhaya has also sought to know when the cops reached the village, around 35 kms from the station, after learning about the mob violence.