A young man who was brutally stabbed after allegedly protesting the eve-teasing of women at a bar in Jharkhand's Jamshedpur has succumbed to his injuries, triggering widespread protests and raising serious questions about police conduct in the case. The victim, identified as Himanshu Singh, died during treatment at Tata Main Hospital on Monday evening.
The incident took place late on Saturday night at the Double Down (DD) Pub and Bar in the Bistupur area. According to police, a heated altercation broke out after Himanshu Singh and his friend, Pratyush Singh, objected to the alleged harassment of women inside the bar. The dispute escalated into a violent clash outside the establishment, where the two men were allegedly attacked with knives. Pratyush remains in critical condition.
Police investigations have revealed serious lapses in the handling of the incident. According to reports, the attackers allegedly dragged the victims out of a police patrol vehicle before carrying out the stabbing. An internal inquiry based on CCTV footage found negligence on the part of the police personnel present at the scene.
Following the outrage, East Singhbhum police suspended several personnel, including Assistant Sub-Inspectors Ratan Kumar Das and Rajesh Kumar Ranjan, constable Manoj Kumar and later Bistupur police station officer-in-charge Alok Dubey. The disciplinary action came amid mounting criticism over the police response and demands for accountability.
Himanshu's death sparked massive protests in Jamshedpur, with hundreds of people blocking roads at the busy Bistupur roundabout for several hours. Protesters burnt tyres, demanded the immediate arrest of all those involved in the attack and accused the police of trying to shield the main culprits. Heavy police deployment was made in the area to maintain law and order.
An FIR has been registered against ten people, including the owner of the bar, and the investigation is continuing. The incident has triggered a political storm in Jharkhand, with several leaders questioning the state's law-and-order situation and demanding stringent action against both the accused and the police officials found negligent.
