The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has started its work in alleged lynching of 17-year-old Rupesh Pandey during the immersion of Goddess Saraswati idol on first week of February at Barhi block of Hazaribagh. NCPCR chairman Priyank Kanungo on Monday evening visited Barhi and met bereaved family members.

After meeting the family members, Kanungo talking to media persons said that prima facie it appears to be case of mob lynching. Pandey, 17, died after he was allegedly assaulted on February 6 at Kariyadpur village in the Barhi area of the district during an immersion procession after Saraswati Puja. The horrific incident occurred during a clash between members of two communities. The police have registered cases against 27 persons in this connection.  The NCPCR chairman also said that the investigation in the Rupesh Pandey murder case is contrary to the spirit of the Juvenile Justice Act. It appears that the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, which should be followed in investigation of a minor, have not been followed properly.

The NCPCR chairman also enquired from the investigating officer in the case what step he has taken to arrest the other accused in the case, raising steps on the working style of police. The NCPCR chief also enquired from police what step he has taken to attach the property of the accused in the case.

The chairman of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights also visited the Observation Home, taking stock of the law and order situation. During the visit, it was said that the condition of the observation home in the entire state is the same, it should be noted that there is a huge shortage of staff in the observation home.

The NCPCR chief also met the officers involved in the investigation of Rupesh Pandey's murder case and staff who did the post-mortem. He talked to doctors. After meeting in Barhi, he talked to the investigators so far in the Rupesh murder case.

Earlier, the family members of Rupesh Kumar Pandey have called for action under the provisions of the Prevention of Mob Violence and Mob Lynching Bill, 2021. The Prevention of Mob Violence and Mob Lynching Bill, 2021, aims to provide "effective protection" of the constitutional rights of people and prevent mob violence.

Right wing organizations including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and BJP have been demanding justice for Pandey and have taken to streets taking out candle light procession and protest marches.

Last week BJP state president Deepak Prakash was on his way to Barhi to meet the family members of Rupesh Pandey, however, the district police stopped Prakash at Charhi.