Congress Former MLA Candidate Nayak Condemns Mob Lynching

Ranchi: Senior Congress leader and former MLA candidate Vijay Shankar Nayak on Monday strongly condemned the brutal, caste-driven mob lynching of 18-year-old Vicky Nayak, son of Tulsi Nayak, in Chaya village under the Budmu police station area of Ranchi district. The incident took place on January 16, 2026.

The victim, who belonged to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, was allegedly summoned to a village meeting on suspicion of stealing a motor pump. There, he was brutally assaulted with sticks and iron rods in the presence of his parents, resulting in his death.

Despite the clear caste-based nature of the crime—committed by non-SC/ST individuals against a member of the Scheduled Caste—the Budmu police have failed to invoke relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, in the FIR. Nayak termed this omission a serious lapse that amounts to shielding the accused and undermining constitutional protections for marginalized communities.

Vijay Shankar Nayak said the incident was a clear case of caste hatred and mob violence rooted in deep-seated prejudice. He described the exclusion of the SC/ST Act from the FIR as unacceptable and warned that if Sections 3(2)(v), 3(2)(va), and 3(1)(r) of the Act are not immediately added, the party would demand action against the concerned police officials under Section 4 of the Act for willful neglect of duty.

He further stated that if corrective action is not taken promptly, a petition will be filed in the High Court seeking judicial intervention. The Congress leader also announced plans for sustained agitation to ensure strict punishment for the perpetrators, a fast-track trial in a special court, and immediate as well as adequate compensation for the victim’s family.

The key demands include immediate inclusion of appropriate sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in the FIR, swift arrest and prosecution of all accused through a fast-track special court, and timely interim and final compensation under the SC/ST Rules, 1995, including benefits under central and state schemes, along with government employment and security for the victim’s dependents.

Calling the incident a grim reminder of the continued vulnerability of Dalit communities to caste-based violence, Nayak urged Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the Director General of Police, and the state administration to take immediate cognizance, ensure swift justice, and restore public faith in the rule of law.