Siliguri, Oct. 4 -- Two people were allegedly killed following an alleged mob assault after a group of men suspected of attempting to steal cattle were caught by villagers in Tarabari in the Siliguri subdivision. Police have arrested seven people in connection with the incident and the cow smuggling.
According to sources, cattle theft incidents have been reported from the area on several occasions. As per local sources, in the wee hours of Saturday, a group of men allegedly arrived in a pickup van with the intention of stealing cattle. After residents noticed their movements, they caught the men and allegedly assaulted them.
The situation escalated when two more people arrived at the spot in another four-wheeler. The pickup van was allegedly set on fire, while the other vehicle was vandalised. One of the suspected cattle thieves, identified as Sahed Akhtar, died on the spot following the assault. He was a resident of Chopra, North Dinajpur district.
Soon after the incident, police arrested Amir, Saad Mohammad, Akram Khan and Arif Khan, all residents of Haryana. In critical condition, they were admitted to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH), where Saad Mohammad succumbed to his injuries.
Later that night, the other four accused allegedly entered the restricted Army area at Bengdubi to evade the police and take shelter there. They were subsequently arrested from the area. All four were produced before the Siliguri court on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Sahed Akhtar's wife Raziya Sultana lodged a written complaint at Bagdogra police station against the assault and her husband's death. Anirban Majumder, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), East Zone, said: "The arrested persons were allegedly involved in cow smuggling. A mob attack took place where a person died on the spot and another died at the hospital. Further investigation is going on."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.