On 18 April 2024, the Indigenous Rights Advocacy Centre (IRAC) filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) regarding the killing of Hari Narayan Pahariya, a 30-year-old member of a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), in police firing at Bada Danga Para village in Godda district, Jharkhand. The incident occurred on 17 April 2024.
Hari Narayan Pahariya, a resident of Bada Danga Para village, was allegedly killed by a police bullet, as claimed by his family member, who demanded strict action against the responsible police personnel. According to the police, they conducted a raid on the evening of 17 April 2024 at the house of Benadik Hembram following an FIR related to extortion lodged at Sundar Pahari police station on 16 April. During the raid, the police reportedly saw a person running away from the house and shot at him. The injured was taken to the community health centre in Sundar Pahari, where he was declared dead during treatment.
However, the deceased’s family members dispute the police’s account. Kamdev Pahariya, the older brother of the deceased, alleges that Hari Narayan Pahariya was attending to nature’s call at a riverside when he was deliberately shot by the police. The deceased was a farmer and the sole breadwinner for his family, leaving behind his wife, two daughters, and a son.
In light of these serious allegations of extrajudicial killing, IRAC has called upon the NHRC to take urgent action. The requested actions include directing the State Government of Jharkhand to order a judicial inquiry into the killing and submit an action taken report within four weeks. IRAC also seeks the registration of a murder case against the accused police personnel, ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice, and providing compensation of at least Rs 20 lakh to the deceased’s family.