Darbhanga: Tensions continue to mount in Darbhanga’s Rayam area following the suspicious death of 13-year-old Jatin Gautam, a student of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Pachadhi. The incident occurred on July 8, yet justice remains elusive for the grieving family. Amid growing outrage, local MLA Dr. Murari Mohan Jha has announced a fast unto death starting July 15 at Rayam police station.
Despite the formation of a three-member inquiry team by the district administration, none of the officials have visited the victim’s family so far, further intensifying public anger. The family continues to demand a fair and transparent investigation into Jatin’s mysterious death.
FIR Against Protesters Sparks Public Outcry
In a controversial move, Rayam police registered an FIR against 21 named individuals and 1,500 unidentified persons following a protest demanding the presence of a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team. This has sparked widespread resentment among the locals.
To protest the FIR and demand justice for Jatin, a large public meeting was held on Sunday at the Rameshwarnath Mahadev temple premises. The gathering witnessed participation from thousands of people including leaders across party lines, youth, and villagers.
MLA Demands CBI Probe, Vows Peaceful Protest
Addressing the gathering, MLA Dr. Murari Mohan Jha questioned the administration’s approach:
“A child has died under mysterious circumstances. Instead of addressing the family’s concerns, the police are booking villagers. What kind of justice is this?” he asked.
Dr. Jha announced he would launch a fast unto death in a peaceful and democratic manner from July 15, right in front of Rayam police station. He stated that formal intimation would be sent to the District Magistrate, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM).
He reiterated his demand for a CBI inquiry into the case and vowed to continue his protest until justice is delivered to Jatin’s family.
Massive Public Support
The meeting witnessed an overwhelming response from the public, with thousands turning up to express solidarity with the family and support the MLA’s call for action. Prominent local figures present at the event included Santosh Kumar, Ajay Kumar, Roshan Mishra, Iftikhar Ahmed, Fateh Ahmed, Rajiv Madhukar, Gufran Ahmed, Raman Mishra, Manoj Gupta, Badre Alam, Ashok Paswan, Vinod Jha, Shravan Mishra, Satish Yadav, and Pawan Nirala, among others.
All speakers unanimously backed the demand for justice and pledged their support for the upcoming fast and peaceful agitation.
