Somewhere in Jharkhand....

A social activist involved in exposing alleged irregularities in implementing MGNREGA schemes was beaten to death at Jeruwa village under the Manika police station in Jharkhand’s Latehar. The incident occurred on the intervening night of March 2-3. Niyamat Ansari (53) was associated with the former member of the MGNREGA council and present member of the National Advisory Council Jean Dreze. Latehar SP Kuldip Dwivedi said the sister of the victim, Shaida Bibi, had lodged an FIR in which she claimed to have identified the assailants. Quoting the FIR, Dwivedi said 10-12 people descended on Ansari’s house, dragged him out and beat him up with sticks. The Manika police were informed who brought Ansari to the Latehar hospital where he succumbed to injuries, the SP said.