BJP trying to disrupt ''communal harmony'' in Jharkhand: Babulal Marandi

Ranchi: Former Jharkhand chief minister Babulal Marandi on Saturday dubbed as extremely unfortunate the Latehar incident where dead bodies of two Muslim cattle traders were found hanging from a tree and alleged that the ruling BJP was trying to disrupt the communal harmony in the state.

"The incident is very unfortunate. Ever since the BJP government has come to power at the Centre, the supporters of the party like the Bajrang Dal, RSS and other sister organisations have been creating a ruckus," Marandi told ANI.

He said that the state government should arrest the person responsible for such a heinous crime and demanded severe punishment for the accused so that such incidents are not repeated in the near future.

"Today, the BJP has created such an environment in the state that Muslims will not be able to keep cows and other animals in their houses. The BJP are trying to disrupt the communal harmony in the state," he added.

The bodies of two cattle traders, one of whom is a teenager, were found hanging from a tree in Jhabbar village in Jharkhand`s Latehar district on Friday morning.Meanwhile, the police has arrested five persons in connection with the case while three others are still absconding.

According to the police, their hands were tied and the bodies bore injury marks, indicating they were hanged after being beaten to death.The preliminary investigation revealed that the two were on their way to a cattle market in Chatra district. They had at least eight oxen with them, which they intended to sell, said police.

They were reportedly caught by a group of persons in the early hours, beaten to death and hanged.