Security ‘withdrawn’, Lobin Hires Guards With Bows | Ranchi News – Times of India
The septuagenarian tribal leader does not shy away from calling a spade a spade. Recently, Lobin raised the issue of the alleged withdrawal of his government security cover in the assembly, claiming that he faces a threat to his life from mining mafias of Sahibganj district which are under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
“As I continued to raise my voice against the state-sponsored rampant illegal mining apart from the land scams in Ranchi and elsewhere, in the assembly and outside, I am under serious threats of being targeted by the mafias,” Lobin told TOI on Friday.
The JMM MLA, however, admitted that he has been provided with three bodyguards by the state government in the aftermath of his move to raise the issue of the withdrawal of his security cover but said it was not enough considering the scale of the threat to his life.
“First-time MLAs have been provided five to six bodyguards by the state government whereas my security cover was withdrawn despite being a long-time MLA and fighting against the indiscriminate exploitation of the mineral resources,” Lobin said, adding that the withdrawal of his security cover was linked to his move to raise points against the government.
He claimed to have approached the Centre and the DGP, expressing concern over the withdrawal of his security cover but in vain, prompting him to raise the issue in the assembly.
“The way CPM leader Subhash Munda was gunned down in the state capital, prompted me to voice the threat to my life, owing to my crackdowns against mafia elements,” Lobin pointed out, stressing that he would engage more party workers as bodyguards armed with bows and arrows.
The newly posted SP of Sahibganj, Noushad Alam, denied that the two bodyguards provided to Lobin Hembrom were ever withdrawn. “The two bodyguards provided to the Borio MLA Lobin Hembrom in December 2019 were replaced by others in March 2023 and continued to be deployed with him till date,” the SP said, adding that the Godda district police administration, too, had provided him with a bodyguard because a part of the Borio constituency falls under its jurisdiction.
