Ranchi:
Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda today said police was inquiring into the killing of a nun who spearheaded an anti-displacement stir against a private coal company at Pachwara village in Pakur district.
"Now the police is inquiring into the incident. If required, a separate probe would be instituted," Munda told reporters here.
The 52-year-old anti-mining activist, Sister Valsa John, was killed on Tuesday night in Dhumka in Jharkhand. Her family in Kerala alleged after her death that she faced death threats from the mining mafia in the region and was killed because of her campaign against the Panam coal Company.
Sister Valsa was hacked to death by about 35 to 40 unidentified persons at her house in Pachwara under Amrapara block in Pakur district.
"A sister is killed. It is a shame for the state of Jharkhand. She was a social worker. A proper investigation is needed. The culprits should be punished. She had come there to help the locals. It is a huge loss," said Father Telespher P Toppo.
"The villagers and Sister Barla had disputes. It also involved the Panam coal mines. Maoist group MCC has left a note. Investigations are on," said RK Mallik, Jharkhand Police Spokesperson.
For 24 years, Sister Valsa had worked with tribal miners in the coal rich region and fought for their rights. The Tribals have long suffered at the hands of the mining mafia.
According to locals, the stir began after villagers feared displacement following mining.
DIG (Santhal Pargana) V K Pandey had yesterday said that police suspect reports of Valsha's withdrawal from the anti-displacement movement against the company might have been
the reason behind the incident.
Pakur SP Amarnath Khanna said after Valsha returned on November 7 from her village in Kerala, some villagers had protested her return. However, no arrests were made in this
connection.
Former Jharkhand deputy chief minister Stephen Marandi said the mortal remains of the nun was today laid to rest in Dumka district.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand Disom Party today demanded a CBI probe into her killing.