6 migrant workers held for beating colleague to death in Perumbavoor

Kochi: A 40-year-old migrant worker from Assam was beaten to death in an alleged mob attack at a plywood unit in Mudickal near Perumbavoor early on Wednesday, after being accused of theft by fellow workers.The deceased was identified as Nurul Hussain, a native of Nagaon. According to police, he was allegedly assaulted by a group of six workers who suspected him of stealing their mobile phones and cash. The police arrested six migrant workers, all natives of Assam, in connection with the incident. The accused were identified as Alavudheen, 32, Jakir Hussain, 42, Habeebudheen, 32, Musammil Haque, 27, Hachen Ali, 37, and Minarul, 32, all hailing from Nagaon. Police sources said all the accused were employed at nearby plywood units in the area, where workers are required to deposit their mobile phones before commencing work. Around 6am, suspicion arose among the workers that Hussain had taken away seven mobile phones and Rs 73,000 kept by them. Police said that the group allegedly confined him inside a room near their living quarters and subjected him to a brutal assault using sticks and other objects. He succumbed to the injuries at the spot. "As soon as hospital authorities informed about the incident, all six accused were taken into custody and interrogated, which led to their arrest," a police officer said. A case was registered under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges of murder, unlawful assembly and wrongful confinement. Separately, police also registered a theft case against the deceased, alleging that he trespassed into the workers' quarters and stole mobile phones worth approximately Rs 1.75 lakh along with cash. Police said the body will be handed over to relatives on Thursday after the completion of inquest procedures.