In recent incidents in West Bengal, India, three Muslim men became targets of mob violence in separate events over the past three days. The most recent victim, 45-year-old Ruhul Amin Sheikh, was fatally beaten in Haribhaktapur village, Murshidabad district, on Saturday night, allegedly for suspected goat theft.
Local sources reported that three men were accused of attempting to steal goats from a residence, prompting the householders to raise an alarm. While two of the alleged thieves managed to escape the pursuing mob, Ruhul Amin Sheikh was captured, tied to a tree, and subjected to a violent beating. Sheikh succumbed to his injuries at Murshidabad Medical College on Sunday morning.
Dokmal SK. Samsuddin, Sub-Divisional Police Officer, stated, “The deceased hails from North Faridpur of Jalangi police station. The body has been recovered and sent to Murshidabad Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination. No written complaint has been filed yet. If a complaint is registered, an investigation will be initiated.”
In a separate incident on Friday in Turuk Meena village of East Bardhaman district, two Muslim men suspected of cow theft were attacked by a mob. Attempting to evade the mob by jumping into a pond, they were pulled out and assaulted. The victims later succumbed to their injuries at Vardhaman Medical College Hospital on Saturday morning.
Aman Deep, District Superintendent of Police, commented on the incident, saying, “Two bodies were recovered and sent to Burdwan Medical College Hospital morgue for post-mortem. Police have started an investigation. Preliminary investigation revealed that some people had entered the village with a cargo vehicle, and a search is on for the vehicle and the others.”