Mysterious death of slain Dalit youth's sister in MP takes backseat to political blame game

On Sunday, the deceased Anjana Ahirwar (23) apparently jumped out or fell out of the moving vehicle carrying the dead body of her uncle, Rajendra Ahirwar, after a postmortem from Sagar.

Bhopal: The Opposition Congress has alleged that 'jungle raj' is prevailing in the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh after a young Dalit woman died in mysterious circumstances in Sagar district on Sunday, a day after her uncle succumbed to injuries after he was beaten up by a group of people.

Incidentally, the victim’s brother was also beaten to death by some persons last August.

Anjana Ahirwar died on Sunday after 'falling off' from an ambulance which was carrying the body of her uncle Rajendra Ahirwar.

Last year, Anjana had lodged a complaint claiming that her brother, Nitin Ahirwar alias Lalu (18), was beaten to death by some persons pressuring her for a compromise in a molestation case.

It is alleged that Rajendra was also attacked by the same persons as he and Nitin were eyewitnesses in the molestation complaint by Anjana.

According to information available, Anjana was molested by a handful of village musclemen having political connections in August 2023. Police have arrested 9 people in the molestation case which is under trial. The accused first tried to pressurise the victim’s family for a compromise, and allegedly stripped the victim’s mother after the family refused to concede to their demands.

Sagar Police Superintendent Abhishek Tiwari said the police were investigating the case with utmost seriousness. Based on a complaint by the victim’s father, an FIR has been registered against five persons.

Tiwari, however, termed the molestation allegation as fabricated. He said prima facie it was a face-off between two warring groups but the police were investigating the case from various angles.

Congress attacks BJP

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh visited the victim’s house on Monday to express condolences. Singh quoted Anjana as saying in her police complaint that her family was being pressured by goons who enjoyed patronage of the ruling party.

He demanded the removal of the collector and superintendent of police of Sagar district

The opposition party has also demanded a probe by the CBI into the deaths. 

MP Congress president Jitu Patwari on Tuesday met the Ahirwar family in Barodia Nonagir village. He called up Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on the mobile phone and connected him with the victim’s brother.

Gandhi assured the victim’s brother that Congress would extend all possible help to the Ahirwar family.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi hit out at the BJP over the death of Anjana Ahirwar and asserted “We will create a system where even the weakest person will be able to raise his voice strongly against oppression”.