Man beaten to death over mobile theft allegation in Siwan, FIR filed

Patna: An FIR was registered against some villagers in Siwan district on Sunday after a 24-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death over accusations of mobile phone theft.

He was dragged from his home, tied to a tree in a field, and assaulted with sticks for nearly two hours on May 30 noon. The family took him to hospital in critical condition, where he was declared dead. As news spread, hundreds of villagers surrounded Barharia police station, alleging police’s delay cost his life.

Raids are being carried out to nab the accused, police said.

The deceased was identified as Shahzad Ali, a resident of Shivrajpur village under Barharia police station area.

Shahzad’s wife Mobina Khatoon said villagers falsely accused her husband of stealing a mobile phone and dragged him from their house. “When I reached the field, they had tied him to a tree and were beating him brutally,” she said.

“I tried to save him, but they threatened me and chased me away. He fainted several times. They threw water on his face to revive him and beat him again,” she alleged.

Shahzad, the sole breadwinner, leaves behind four children who keep asking when their father will return.

Locals alleged the Dial-112 team reached the spot but remained mute spectators and left without intervening.

Barharia SHO Chhotan Kumar said Shahzad was accused of mobile theft in the village four days ago. Upon getting information about Shahzad being beaten by the mob, the police immediately reached the spot and assisted the family to admit him to the sadar hospital. But unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries, he said.

“Based on the family’s statement, an FIR has been registered against Amit Kumar, Pramendra Manjhi, Chhathu Manjhi, Awadhkishore Chaudhary, Guddu Manjhi, Rajan Chaudhary, Mantu Kumar and 8-10 unidentified people. Raids are on to arrest them,” the SHO said.

Upon getting information, Siwan SP Puran Kumar Jha and SDPO Ashok Kumar Singh also visited the village and directed the Barharia SHO to take strict legal action.