Congress leader meets injured persons in Ambala; seeks arrest of main accused, release of innocent protesters and impartial review of cases

CHANDIGARH / POD DESK

Sirsa MP, former Union Minister, AICC General Secretary and Congress Working Committee member Kumari Selja has termed the Jeevan Kundu murder case in Hansi deeply tragic and expressed serious concern over the alleged delay in the arrest of the main accused. She said that even after the brutal killing of a young man, the victim’s family was being forced to struggle for justice, while the reported police action against people demanding justice had raised serious questions about the law-and-order situation in Haryana.

Selja said the state government must order a high-level and impartial investigation into the entire matter and ensure strict action against all persons found responsible in accordance with law. She stressed that the first responsibility of the government and administration was to ensure justice for the bereaved family and restore public confidence in the rule of law.

The Congress leader visited Ambala and met people who were injured in connection with the developments surrounding the case. She enquired about their health and heard their concerns. Selja said the government should not adopt a confrontational approach towards ordinary villagers and farmers but should listen to their grievances and address them through dialogue and lawful mechanisms.

She said the reported police action in Hansi on Independence Day, including the alleged use of force, lathi-charge and arrest of farmer leaders and activists, also required a fair and independent inquiry. In a democratic system, she said, people peacefully seeking justice should be heard rather than subjected to force.

‘Victim’s family should not be forced to fight for justice’

Selja said it was difficult to imagine the pain being suffered by the family of Jeevan Kundu after losing a young member in a violent incident. She said the family had alleged that although several accused persons had been arrested, the principal accused was still outside police custody.

She said this aspect needed to be investigated seriously. If complaints had previously been submitted against the main accused or information regarding alleged threats had reached the police, those facts should be examined carefully as part of the investigation.

“No individual should receive protection from the law because of political influence or any other form of influence,” Selja said, stressing that the law must operate equally for everyone.

She said the most concerning aspect of the controversy was that the father who had lost his young son was himself facing police action while seeking justice. The government and police administration, she said, should provide clear answers regarding the circumstances surrounding the reported action and arrest of the victim’s father.

According to Selja, the bereaved family should not have to repeatedly approach authorities or protest publicly to secure justice. The administration must proactively ensure that the investigation is fair, evidence-based and completed within a reasonable timeframe.

‘The issue is about justice and rule of law’

Selja said the Jeevan Kundu murder case should not be reduced to an issue involving any particular caste or community. She described it as a matter concerning justice, accountability and the rule of law.

She said people belonging to different sections of Haryana, including the state’s traditionally described “36 communities”, were standing with the victim’s family. The government, she added, should understand the sentiments prevailing among people and respond with sensitivity rather than taking steps that could increase public distrust and anger.

Selja said every citizen had the right to seek justice peacefully and raise concerns before the administration. The government must ensure that such democratic expression remained peaceful and that law-enforcement agencies exercised restraint while dealing with protesters.

She added that maintaining public order was important, but law and order could not be strengthened by ignoring legitimate grievances. A transparent investigation and communication with the affected community were essential to preventing further tension.

Allegations against police must also be investigated

Selja also described as serious the allegations made during the protest regarding alleged stone-pelting by the Superintendent of Police. She said these allegations should be examined through an independent and high-level inquiry so that the truth could be established.

She said an impartial investigation was necessary to determine whether any misconduct had occurred and to ensure that no innocent person was wrongly blamed.

The Congress leader also expressed concern over reports that arrested farmer leaders and activists had been booked under serious criminal provisions, including charges related to attempted murder. She demanded an impartial review of the cases to determine whether the charges were supported by evidence and whether they were proportionate to the alleged acts.

Selja said criminal law should not be used as a tool to suppress peaceful political or social expression. At the same time, she maintained that anyone found to have committed violence should face action under the law after a fair investigation.

Demand for arrest of main accused

Selja demanded that the main accused in the Jeevan Kundu murder case, along with all other persons found responsible, be arrested without further delay.

She called for a comprehensive high-level investigation covering not only the murder but also the circumstances surrounding the subsequent protests, police action, injuries and arrests.

She demanded the immediate release of innocent farmer leaders and activists who had been arrested while raising their voices for justice. She also sought an impartial review of the cases registered against them and withdrawal of any charges found to be unjustified after examination.

According to Selja, the investigation should establish the complete sequence of events and identify individual responsibility on the basis of evidence rather than assumptions or political considerations.

‘Government must listen to voices seeking justice’

Selja said the essence of democratic governance was the ability of the government to listen to citizens, particularly when they were raising concerns about a serious criminal case.

She said the government’s responsibility was not to suppress voices demanding justice but to create an environment where grievances could be heard and resolved peacefully. She urged the Haryana government to avoid confrontation with farmers and villagers and instead engage with them through dialogue.

The Congress leader said the Jeevan Kundu case had become an important test of the administration’s commitment to justice and the rule of law. Timely investigation, accountability and transparent communication, she said, were necessary to rebuild confidence among the victim’s family and the wider public.

She reiterated that the family deserved justice, the guilty should face the law and innocent people should not be harassed or prosecuted without sufficient evidence.

Selja said the government should act with sensitivity and impartiality and ensure that the investigation remained free from political, social or other external influence. She maintained that justice must be fair, transparent and visible to the public.

She also appealed to all sections of society to maintain peace and restraint while the legal process takes its course. According to her, any genuine grievance should be pursued through democratic and constitutional means.

Selja said restoring public faith in the rule of law should be the administration’s immediate priority. She urged the government to ensure a transparent investigation into every aspect of the matter, take lawful action against those responsible, protect the rights of the victim’s family and provide relief to those who had been wrongly implicated.

She concluded that only a fair and comprehensive approach could reduce tensions, provide justice to the bereaved family and strengthen public confidence in Haryana’s law-and-order system.

POD/DESK