Letter petition to Rajasthan HC Chief Justice seeks Central agency probe into burning of priest alive in Karauli

A letter petition has been addressed to the Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court, Indrajit Mahanty, seeking a central investigation agency probe into an incident where a temple priest died after being set afire over a land dispute. .It is reported that the dispute arose after the priest's efforts to stop temple land encroachment. .The priest, whose statement before the Rajasthan police has been recorded, said six people poured petrol on his bales of bajra (millet) which were lying at the disputed land and set it on fire on Wednesday. He claimed they also poured petrol on him and tried to set him on fire..Suffering burn injuries, he was rushed to Jaipur's SMS Hospital where he died on Thursday evening..Supreme Court advocate Pawan Prakash Pathak has now addressed a letter to the Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice, stating that it is the primary duty of State to provide protection of every citizen and to preserve human dignity through various facilities and conditions.."Justice S.Rajendra Babu & Justice S. N. Phukan has rightly observed in case of S. S. Ahuwalaia v. Union of India and others that, Article 21 of the Constitution stated that, the state to create a climate where members of the society belonging to different faith, caste and creed live together and therefore, the state has a duty to protect their life, liberty, and worth of an individual which should not be endangered," reads the letter petition..The lawyer further raises concern over the rising number of reported and unreported barbaric crimes, police insensitivity, unparliamentary and uncivil behaviour by the State police towards the victims and their families..His petition adds that the promise of Ram Rajya is being shattered by "some insurgent individuals.".The letter adds, "Our entire country with great joy and enthusiasm witnessed our Prime Minister Shree Narendra Modi laying the foundational stone of Ram Janam Bhoomi in Ayodhya after a long due of 500 years and his promise of establishing Ram Rajya but I don’t see how we will establish Ram Rajya, if such activities continues because victims will ultimately loose trust on this democratic structure.".Advocate Pathak has urged the Court to hear the matter on the judicial side urgently and to order a free, fair and transparent probe into the case by a Central agency. .The letter-petition also seeks directions for the protection of the victim's family, stating that they are under "constant and immense threat." It adds that the accused and any other person should be restrained from threatening or harassing the victim's family.