In two separate incidents in West Bengal, three Muslim men were killed by mobs within a span of 72 hours. In both cases, the assailant mobs labelled the deceased of being cow or goat thieves.
In the initial incident, a mob beat two Muslim men to death, accusing them of cow theft. The victims, residents of South 24 Parganas, faced the attack late on Friday night in South Mainna village of Navgram in the East Vandaman Jamalpur block. Police have filed a case, and heightened security measures are in place in the area.
The mob dragged the Muslim men out of the pond and subjected them to a brutal beating.
Despite being admitted to Vardhaman Medical College Hospital, the two injured individuals succumbed to their injuries on Saturday morning, the police said.
District Superintendent of Police Aman Deep said, “Two bodies have been recovered and sent to Burdwan Medical College Hospital morgue for post-mortem. The individuals are reported to be residents of South 24 Parganas. An investigation is underway, and preliminary findings suggest that certain people entered the village with a cargo vehicle. Efforts are ongoing to locate the vehicle and those involved.”
In the second incident, in Haribhaktapur, West Bengal, a Muslim man named Ruhul Amin Sheikh was lynched on allegations of goat theft, as reported by The Observer Post.
He was 45.
After being captured by a mob, Sheikh was tied to a tree, brutally beaten, and he later succumbed to his injuries at Murshidabad Medical College Hospital.
“The deceased hails from North Faridpur of Jalangi police station. The body has been recovered and sent to Murshidabad Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination. No written complaint has been filed yet. If a complaint is registered, an investigation will be initiated,” The Observer Post quoted Domkal’s SDPO SK. Samsuddin as saying.
