Man beaten & humiliated by village mob over 300 ‘theft’

Raipur: A young man accused of stealing mustard seeds and Rs 300 in Chhattisgarh's Balrampur-Ramanujganj district was allegedly subjected to brutal public humiliation by a mob of villagers, who beat him, tore his clothes and partially shaved his head in what police are probing as a case of mob violence.The incident took place in Dharanagar village and came to light after a video of the assault went viral on social media. The footage, said to be from Saturday afternoon, purportedly shows villagers thrashing the youth with a plastic pipe, striking the soles of his feet, stripping him half-naked and cutting his hair.According to local accounts, the youth, identified as Shrikant Singh, a resident of Korandha village, had gone to Dharanagar on his motorcycle and entered the house of a farmer, Parshu Minj, while the family was away collecting mahua. Villagers alleged that he broke in through a window and tried to steal a small sack of mustard along with Rs 300 in cash.He was intercepted by villagers while allegedly attempting to leave with the sack on his bike. When he failed to give a satisfactory explanation during questioning, the crowd allegedly assaulted him. Police said the youth was later forced to admit to the theft.The violence escalated further when his parents reached the spot after being informed. Instead of allowing them to take him away, the mob allegedly assaulted them as well. All three sustained injuries, and the youth and his father were admitted to hospital, police said.Based on a complaint lodged by the youth's mother, police have registered an FIR against three named accused and others involved in the assault. Shankargarh police station in-charge Jitendra Jaiswal said statements would be recorded and investigation was underway.Police said no separate theft complaint was formally registered so far. Officials added that while the youth is said to have faced theft allegations earlier as well, that did not justify the assault or public humiliation.