Team Clarion
RANCHI — Two men were beaten to death by a mob of villagers after the deceased allegedly attempted to steal the goats in Jamshedpur district of Jharkhand on the early hours of Saturday.
One of the deceased, identified as Kushak Behera, died on the spot, while the other one, Bhola Nath Mahto, succumbed to his injuries at Mahatma Gandhi Madical College and Hospital later that morning. The incident happened in the Jorsa village under the jurisdiction of Chakulia Police Station.
“Two villagers had entered the village allegedly to steal goats, during which, they were caught by the goat owner and was thrashed badly with the help of other villagers. Both the youths died in this incident, one of them died on the spot while the other one succumbed to his injuries during treatment in hospital” said SP (Rural) Rishabh Garg while talking to reporters.
As of now, five people have been taken into custody, while others are being identified, he added.
The SP further said that no written complaint has been received so far, and legal action will be taken after receiving the same.
Locals claimed that the two suspects, said to be the residents of Jeeerapara village in Chakulia, were caught making an attempt to steal goats from a house.
When the suspects attempted to steal the goat, the bell tied around the neck of the goat started ringing, due to which, Hargovind Nayak, the house owner, woke up Nayak came out of the house to check whether everything was alright with the goats, and saw the two youths were taking away three goats on a bike.
The house owner, caught hold of them and alerted the other villagers, who gathered there immediately and held the suspects captive.The mob then started beating them mercilessly with kicks, punches and bamboo sticks, resulting into Behera’s death on the spot, they said.
“After Kushak Behra went uncurious, the villagers stopped beating him, but it was too late,” the villager was quoted by The New Indian Express.
Later, the police were also informed, he added.
After receiving the information, police reached the spot and rushed Mahto to hospital, where he also succumbed to his injuries.
Several such incidents of lynching over the allegations of goat or any other theft were reported from the state. Such allegations were rejected by the family members of the deceased in the past. A police investigation can unearth the real motive behind such allegations.
