Mentally ill Muslim man brutally beaten to death over suspicion of cow theft in Assam
Hoja, Assam: A heart-wrenching incident of lynching has come to light in Assam's Hojai district, where a mentally ill man, Hifzur Rahman, lost his life due to a brutal assault by a vigilante group. The incident occurred on August 12 in the village of Bamungaon, located in the Lanka area of Hojai district.
Rahman, a 23-year-old with a history of mental health issues, was accused of cow theft by residents of the Hindu-dominated Bamungaon village. According to local sources, there had been previous cases of cow theft in the area, prompting villagers to keep a watchful eye. On the ill-fated day, Rahman had entered the village, and suspicions were raised against him.
In a shocking display of mob violence, the vigilante group confronted Rahman and subjected him to a merciless beating. Despite his mental health condition, Rahman was brutally attacked based on mere suspicion. The group later informed the police about the incident.
Upon receiving the information, the local police rushed to the scene and discovered a gravely injured Rahman. He was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, where he was tragically declared dead. The incident has raised questions about the escalation of violence and the disregard for a person's mental health condition in the face of suspicion.
Rahman's family vehemently denied the allegations of cow theft, emphasizing his mental instability. Imrul Hoque, Rahman's brother, shared that his sibling would often seek assistance from people and shops but had never been involved in any theft. Imrul expressed his disbelief that sensible individuals could resort to violence against a person with mental health challenges.
Local authorities responded to the tragic incident, arresting six individuals — Sanjoy Das, Nikhil Das, Tulendra Das, Uttam Chakrabarty, Jayanta Chakrabarty and Sanandhu Majumdar – in connection with Rahman's lynching. The arrested individuals face charges under IPC 302, and further investigation is underway. The police have also indicated that another person is expected to be arrested in connection with the crime.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
K'taka Guv writes to CM, advises personal probe into BJP MLC CT Ravi's 'police atrocity' claims
Bengaluru, Jan 8: Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah advising him to personally look into BJP MLC C T Ravi's complaint alleging "police atrocity" in Belagavi, after the legislature session last month, and take necessary action.
The Governor in his letter to CM dated December 31, refers to Ravi along with his colleagues meeting him and submitting a detailed representation regarding the incident that happened after the end of the session in Belagavi.
Ravi had allegedly used a derogatory word against Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar in the Legislative Council on December 19 during an altercation between them, when the House was adjourned for a while.
He was arrested on the same day evening and taken into the police van from the premises of Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, where the legislature session was held, based on Hebbalkar's complaint.
Ravi had on December 20 accused the police of "violating" human rights, as he alleged that they took him on rounds the entire night to various places, without providing proper food and rest, after his arrest on the previous evening.
The High Court had subsequently ordered the immediate release of Ravi in its interim order, observing that police failed to follow the procedures in arresting him. However, the bench of Justice M G Uma asked the BJP leader to cooperate with the investigation and be available for questioning.
The Governor in his letter to CM said, "Ravi has informed that the Commissioner of Police, Belagavi and Superintendent of Police, Belagavi with their subordinate officers have kidnapped him and carried him to dangerous remote locations like sugar cane field, open field, Khanapur, Kittur, Lokapur, Sankeshwar and various places of the district over the distance of 400 km throughout the night and also injured him to bleed in custody, terribly tortured and harassed mentally and physically which is unpardonable police atrocity."
Ravi has also informed that the complaint filed by him against the assault and atrocity at Khanapur Police Station and appeal in this regard to SP Belagavi have not been attended by the Police, the Governor said. "Therefore, he has requested me to take legal action against the erred police officers in the entire episode and also requested for additional security for his life."
"On perusal of the representation and documents, both the issues seem very serious and need your personal intervention. Therefore, I have forwarded the said representation along with this letter. Since the matter relates to the elected representative, I advise you to look into the matter personally and take necessary action," Gehlot added.
In the wake of allegations against police for ill-treating Ravi in custody, the Belagavi police had last month clarified that the BJP leader was shifted to various places for security reasons and to avoid disrupting public order.
The Criminal Investigation Department is probing into a case in which Ravi is accused of using a derogatory word against Minister Hebbalkar in the Legislative Council, and also a case in which unknown persons have been accused of allegedly attempting to attack Ravi in the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha on December 19.
