The wife of a villager allegedly killed by security forces in Latehar district on the suspicion of being a Maoist in June has approached Jharkhand High Court for justice.

After failing to get an FIR lodged after over five months of the incident, Jiramani Devi filed a writ petition in Jharkhand High Court on November 20.

In October, Jiramani had filed a complaint at the Latehar district judicial magistrate court after pooling money through a crowdfunding drive by villagers and local sympathizers.

“Jiramani Devi had filed a complaint case in the Latehar court in October to demand the lodging of an FIR against the security personnel responsible for killing her husband Brahmadevi Singh, 23, at Piri village under Garu thana. The court had taken up the case and decided to probe the incident at its own level instead of directing the local thana to lodge FIR.

“ The wife’s writ petition in the high court seeks direction to the lead judicial magistrate in Latehar to immediately get the FIR filed in the Garu thana,” said Siraj Dutta of Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha, a coalition of social outfit and right activists.

In her writ petition, Jiramani has also requested the high court to constitute a special investigation team under a retired high court judge to independently probe the incident besides seeking protection for the petitioner and the witnesses and an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 10 lakh.

Jiramani Devi with the application in front of the Garu police station in Latehar in June. Bhola Prasad

On June 12, security forces out on search mission for Maoists, opened fire on adivasis of Piri village, killing Bramhadev.

The adivasis, including Bramhadev, were out on a traditional hunting ritual for the Sarhul festival. They all carried single-fire bhartua guns, used to hunt small animals and birds like rabbits, pigs and chickens and to protect crops from animals.

A team of human rights activists under the aegis of the Mahasabha had visited Piri village. The team, in its fact-finding report released on June 23, claimed that innocent villagers carrying single-shot country-made guns were taking part in an annual hunting festival when they were fired at by security forces.

“The security forces took Bramhadev to the edge of the forest and fired three shots at him, which led to his death. The police FIR does not mention Bramhadev’s death by police firing.

“According to the FIR, this incident was an exchange of fire in which the first shot was fired by a group of armed villagers and some people fled into the forest. The FIR also mentions that Bramhadev’s body was found at the edge of the forest. These statements are contrary to the facts,” the report states.

It also states that the police have filed a case against six adivasis, including Bramhadev, under various sections of the IPC.

The CID is currently investigating the case.