Man lynched in Jharkhand’s Godda, family alleges killing driven by religious hatred
Godda, Jharkhand: A mob killing in Jharkhand’s Godda district has triggered outrage after a 40-year-old Muslim man was allegedly beaten to death. The incident occurred in the Podaiyahat police station area, where the body of Pappu Ansari was found in a field between Matihani and Latta villages on Thursday morning.
Ansari was a resident of Ranipur village under the Pathargama police station limits. He had reportedly gone to the area after being called on the pretext of settling a payment related to cattle delivery. According to his family, he was called again early in the morning to collect money. He was then told that the cattle would not be handed over. When he tried to leave, he was allegedly attacked from behind and surrounded by a group of men.
His brother, Mohammad Naseem, alleged that Ansari was stripped after his brother was identified as a Muslim, and then brutally assaulted. He claimed the attackers used multiple weapons like a farsa, sticks, arrows and a chisel. Naseem alleged the assault continued repeatedly referring to his religious identity.
The incident is said to have taken place during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday in Matihani village. Police said villagers caught Ansari around 1 am on suspicion of cattle theft and allegedly beat him with sticks. Senior police officials reached the spot after receiving information, and the body was sent to Sadar Hospital for post-mortem examination.
During the investigation, police recovered slippers, blood-stained sticks, a burnt mobile phone, gutkha packets, khaini and ashes from the scene, as reported by The Indian Express. Headquarters Deputy Superintendent of Police JPN Chaudhary said the man had been beaten to death and that efforts were underway to identify and arrest those involved.
Police sources said Ansari had previous cases related to cattle theft and copper theft registered against him and claimed he had arrived in the village with three others in a pickup vehicle, who managed to flee when he was caught. The family, however, rejected this version, maintaining that the killing was not linked to theft but was an act of mob violence driven by religious animosity.
Naseem alleged that no elected representative or senior official had visited the family after the incident. Ansari is survived by four daughters and a young son.
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Elderly woman killed, robbed on outskirts of Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): A 69-year-old woman was allegedly murdered and robbed of her gold ornaments at her residence on the city’s outskirts while her paralysed husband was present, police said Thursday.
The incident occurred on Pete Street in Nelamangala, where Shobha lived with her husband, who is paralysed and bedridden, police said.
For the past decade, she had been the sole caregiver for her husband. The couple had no children and lived a secluded life, according to police.
A video from the scene showed the woman lying in a pool of blood, with her husband beside her on the same bed, they said.
The accused, Shivakumar, a wholesale shop owner who has been arrested in the case, allegedly targeted her to clear a debt of Rs 8 lakh, police said.
The crime came to light on Wednesday evening when her husband’s physiotherapist arrived for a scheduled session. Upon finding Shobha’s lifeless body in a pool of blood, the doctor immediately alerted the local authorities, police officials said.
According to police, at approximately 4 pm on the day of the incident, the accused, Shivakumar, a resident of the same locality, noticed Shobha wearing gold jewellery. He allegedly followed her to her residence with a premeditated plan.
Shivakumar entered the house under the guise of being thirsty, asking Shobha for a glass of water. Once inside, and believing she was alone, he attacked her. When Shobha attempted to resist, the accused allegedly slit her throat, a senior police officer said.
After the murder, Shivakumar fled the scene with more than 100 grams of gold jewellery worn by the victim, police said.
By analysing CCTV footage from the surrounding area, police identified Shivakumar and tracked him down, they added.
