Two persons have been arrested for allegedly lynching a man to death on suspicion that he sexually harassed a woman in Paik Narayanpur in Jharkhand’s Bokaro district on Thursday, the police said.
The deceased has been identified as Abdul Kalam (24), a construction worker employed at a site about four km from Paik Narayanpur, who was attacked by around 15 to 20 people.
Kalam’s cousin Mohammed Iqbal said he was the sole breadwinner for his disabled mother. “Despite the viral video clearly showing more than 15 people (assaulting him), the police have arrested only two,” Iqbal said.
A local Mohammad Jalaluddin said after the woman accusing him of sexual harassment, Kalam was allegedly tied up and thrashed until he fell unconscious. “He was left lying in the sun. After the incident was reported in the local police station, he was rushed to the hospital, but he died before reaching the facility.”
The video of the alleged lynching has gone viral, which purportedly shows a mob thrashing Kalam with sticks, kicking and forcing him to confess to the allegation of sexual harassment. In the purported video, Kalam could be seen begging for water.
Bokaro SP Manoj Swargiary confirmed the arrests and said action would be taken in line with directions from the Police Headquarters. “People alleged that he harassed a woman. There is no need to send the video to the FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory), as we are identifying the suspects using the video itself.”
Asked whether a nodal officer, as mandated by the SC in mob lynching cases, was appointed, Swargiary said all procedures were being followed under the guidance of the headquarters.
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