By Avijit Biswas
Bhagalpur: All are equal in the eyes of the law. Had it been otherwise, a daily wage earner who earns his livelihood working in a brick kiln besides doing other menial work would not have been provided an armed guard by court order, taking into consideration his security concerns.
In light of the general perception that only VIPs and influential people have the privilege of having official armed guards, it could be surprising for many to see an armed guard escorting a daily wage earner to his workplace.
Santosh Kumar, a daily wage earner in Bhawanipur Desri village in Jagdishpur block of this district, has been recently provided an armed guard for his security by order of the local court.u
As per available information, the need for providing security to Kumar arose after he lodged a case against some influential people in his village last year, accusing them of harassing his mother. He had stated in his complaint that influential people making false allegations of practicing witchcraft have been harassing his mother.
According to Kumar, he was under tremendous pressure to withdraw the case since he had formally lodged a complaint against the harassment of his mother. Kumar says that subsequently, in June last year, his nine year old small brother was brutally murdered.
Alleging his brother was murdered since the deceased strongly resisted branding their mother as a witch, Kumar said a total of seven people were named as accused in the case lodged in connection with the killing of his brother. As per information, one of those whose complicity in crime was established in a police inquiry was arrested subsequently.
Kumar further said that following the murder of his brother, he met with all concerned police authorities and requested that they provide him security. Since he and other family members felt terrorized after the murder of his brother, he met with all those concerned for security.
However, all his attempts to seek security for him and his family members having failed to deliver results, he subsequently moved to a local court for the purpose. Taking note of his predicament, the court ordered that he be provided with security.
Prabhat Kumar Ojha, special public prosecutor, confirmed the then third additional district and sessions judge had ordered providing security to Santosh Kumar. The special public prosecutor corroborated Santosh Kumar; resident of Bhawanipur Desri village who earns a daily wage by working at his native place and at other places located outside the district.
Meanwhile, as per the court order, Kumar had problems getting a security guard, as it was difficult for all concerned to believe that a man of his stature could also need security cover. However, he was provided with a security guard only late in light of the court order, Kumar added.
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