Jharkhand: Tribal Christian beaten to death, three people arrested

Ranchi (AsiaNews) – A Christian man was lynched last week after he was accused of molesting a girl with learning disabilities. “I am deeply saddened by the news of the tragic death of David Minz,” said Archbishop Felix Toppo of Ranchi, the capital of the State of Jharkhand.

The 35-year-old Catholic was a singer who performed in the Nagpuri language and was known on social media thanks to his performances.

According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), the attack took place on 14 December in Tatkundo, a village about 30 km from Ranchi district, a police officer said.

The girl’s family had gone to work and when they came home in the evening, they did not find her. When they went to look for her in the village, someone told them she had been seen with David Minz. At that point, a manhunt began.

When he was found, Minz was brutally beaten and later pronounced dead by doctors at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Science.

Upon hearing of the incident, Mandar police took immediate action, arresting family members – Somra Oraon, Jeetpahan Oraon and Sonu Oraon – on suspicion of murder, following a complaint from Minz’s wife, police said. All three were remanded in custody until 22 December.

Although Jharkhand has passed a law against lynchings, four have occurred this year alone, essentially against religious minorities.

Mukti Tirkey, a tribal activist based in New Delhi, told UCA News that “most of the time personal enmity and property disputes are used to crush Christians and Muslims.”

Christians number around 1.4 million, mostly of tribal origin, out of a population of 33 million.

A report by Sabrang India has documented the rise in anti-Christian violence. The most brutal actions involve vulnerable and marginalised groups, such as scheduled tribes who are still considered outcasts and therefore socially and economically disadvantaged.

Chhattisgarh, a state that borders Jharkhand, had the second-highest number of violent incidents, this according to the United Christian Forum, a Delhi-based human rights advocacy group.

A total 118 were recorded in the state in the first half of 2023, with the district of Bastar the worst offender with 51 cases, almost half of all reported incidents.

In addition, 54 cases of social boycott targeting Christians were also reported, especially in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, a sign that religious minorities, in addition to being affected by poverty and discrimination, continue to be a particularly vulnerable segment of society.

This article is originally published on  https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Jharkhand:-Tribal-Christian-beaten-to-death,-three-people-arrested-59791.html