The victim's family has accused forest officials of thrashing Wasim to death but the cops are yet to ascertain the facts.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — More than a dozen people armed with sticks thrashed a Muslim youth to death for chopping wood in Rajasthan’s Alwar district late Thursday night.
Wasim, a tree-feller died after his vehicle was stopped and was beaten up severely, said police.
The victim’s family has accused forest personnel of thrashing Wasim to death but the police are yet to ascertain the facts, reports reaching here said on Saturday.
Wasim (27) allegedly used to cut trees in forest areas and send the woods to Haryana without informing the forest department, police said.
He was travelling through Narol village with two others when a group of people stopped his pickup vehicle and thrashed them.
On information, the cops reached Narol village but the attackers had fled by then. They took the injured to a local hospital and Wasim was referred to Kotpuli Hospital where he died due to his injuries, the police were quoted as saying.
The victim’s relatives, however, dispute the police claim.
Wasim’s cousin Asif said they had gone to Rampur village to cut a tree after striking a deal with its owner. He said they were told a forest outpost was nearby and they might be penalised, so they left without the wood.
A forest department vehicle followed them when they were returning and used a JCB vehicle to stop them, Wasim’s grandfather added. He alleged the three men were then beaten with sticks.
A case has been registered and five people, including some forest officials, have been detained in this connection. A JCB vehicle and a jeep have been seized as well.
An investigation is on into the alleged role of forest department personnel in the incident, said police.
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Photo: Wasim, a tree-feller died after his vehicle was stopped and was beaten up severely, according to police.
