A 24-year-old Muslim man identified as Tabrez Ansari has died after he was tied to an electricity pole and beaten up for hours by locals in Saraikela Kharsawan district early on Tuesday on the suspicion of theft. Ansari succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital on Saturday, June 22.
Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha and CPI (ML) posted videos on social media alleging that the deceased, was lynched after being forced to chant Jai Sri Ram and Jai Hanuman in Dahtkidih village under Seraikela police station (PS).
According to the reports, Tabrez was handed over to the police on June 18 after being beaten up by the mob and was in the judicial custody since that day. He was taken to a hospital on June 22 after his condition worsened.
One of the accused, identified as Pappu Mandal, has been arrested following Tabrez Ansari’s death.
Tabrez Ansari worked in Pune as a welder and a labourer and had come to his village in Jharkhand’s Kharsawan district to celebrate Eid with his family. His family had also arranged his wedding during his visit.
Also read: Jharkhand lynching victim’s son dies after complaining of headache, family alleges foul play
Complainant Kamal Mahto has told police that he and his family members woke up to a sound and found three men on the rooftop of his neighbour’s house around 2 am on June 18. Mahto complained that when they raised an alarm, the three jumped from the roof. Two of them escaped but Ansari hurt his leg and could not run — he hid in a bush where the villagers found him.
The complaint states that the villagers found in Ansari’s possession a motorcycle without a registration number, wallets and a phone later identified as stolen. It says police were informed and Ansari was handed over to them.
However, Ansari’s uncle Maqsood Alam alleged that the mob thrashed Ansari and later handed him over to the police. He further said that the attack on Ansari was communal in nature as he had a Muslim name.
“They made him chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Jai Hanuman’ again and again,” claimed Alam, calling for the arrest of the culprits.
An FIR has been filed and an investigation is underway. One accused, Pappu Mandal, has been arrested following Tabrez’s death.
