A young man in Hazaribag has died by suicide, with his family claiming that his desperate act stemmed from a prolonged and frustrating pursuit of justice for his murdered brother. The incident has cast a spotlight on an old murder case and alleged lapses in the investigation.
A Desperate Act After Years of Anguish
Yogesh Kumar Mandal, aged 27, was found dead at his residence in Hazaribag on Monday. Preliminary reports indicate he consumed sulphur. His father, Teetu Mandal, directly linked the tragedy to the family's long-standing trauma over the killing of Yogesh's younger brother.
The root of this distress goes back to October 7, 2003, when Manman Kumar Mandal was murdered at Shivpuri Mohalla. According to the family, Manman was targeted because he was raising his voice against wrongdoers, including some influential people in the locality.
The Alleged Injustice in the Murder Case
The family's frustration centers on the official handling of the case. Teetu Mandal revealed that while Manman had named 19 individuals in the First Information Report (FIR number 228/23), the subsequent police investigation and chargesheet saw a drastic reduction in the number of accused.
Only eight people were finally made accused in the case, a move the bereaved family interprets as a dilution of justice, possibly under pressure. Yogesh, who had been deeply affected by his brother's death, was reportedly shattered by this perceived failure of the legal system to hold all alleged perpetrators accountable.
Police Response and Next Steps
When contacted about the suicide, Nishant Kerketta, the officer in-charge of Lohsighna police station, stated that the police would take appropriate action upon receiving a formal complaint from the deceased's family. He assured that a proper probe would be conducted into the circumstances leading to Yogesh Mandal's death.
This tragedy underscores the severe psychological impact that prolonged legal battles and perceived injustice can have on victims' families. It raises critical questions about the support systems for such families and the pace of justice in serious criminal cases.
