Image Courtesy: ANI
While the whole nation was home, grappling with the coronavirus lockdown, on Thursday night, a 40-year-old tribal man from Jharkhand’s Dumka district was allegedly lynched by a mob on the suspicion of theft at Saraiyahat, 50 km from the Dumka district headquarters, The Telegraph India reported.
Pramod Hajra, originally a resident of the Ambatari village in Bihar, was living at his in-laws’ residence in the tribal village of Sumeta in Dhouni Panchayat, Dumka. He passed away on the spot due to his injuries.
Police officials reported that Hajra, who was reportedly wanted in several burglary cases, was caught by villagers as he was allegedly trying to get away with 400 grams of stolen silver jewellery and Rs. 4,800 cash with the help of two accomplices, from the houses of Viram Mandal and Laxmi Mandal, residents of the Kendua village.
A mob of around 20 people caught Hajra, stripped him and tied his hands with his trousers while questioning him.
Sanjay Janak Murthy, the station officer in-charge of the Saraiyahat police station said, “The deceased has been identified as Pramod Hajra, a resident of Ambatari village that falls under the jurisdiction of Bausi police station in Bihar’s Banka district. He was an interstate criminal.”
Murthy had said that he had received information about three people entering a house in Kendua with the intention of robbery and had been chased by villagers, who only got hold of Hajra. When the police reached the spot, they found out that he had died. The police questioned the villagers and took Hajra’s body for a post-mortem. Hajra had received deep wounds on his head and chest in the assault.
Condemning the incident and saying that the civilized society will not tolerate such monstrous acts, Sub-divisional Police officer, Animesh Naithani said, “Cops later took the body to the police station. Strict action will be taken against the offenders.”
Hajra’s widow Kanchan Devi who has now filed an FIR, however alleged that her husband was killed over a dispute that had taken place earlier. She said that she had accused some men of sexual harassment earlier could have been part of the mob that killed her husband.
The Mandal brothers too have filed an FIR about the theft.
Deputy Superintendent of Police, YS Ramesh who assigned the investigation to be taken up as priority said, “We are strict about identifying the persons involved in the incident and action will be taken against them.” No arrests in the incident have been made so far.
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