A Muslim man, who was thrashed by a mob last week over suspicion of a theft in Jharkhand, has succumbed to his injuries.
The victim, identified as Shams Tabrez Ansari was assaulted on June 18. He died, four days after the incident, on Saturday (June 22).
According to reports, the man was accused of stealing a motorcycle.
The incident took place in Dhatkidih village of Jharkhand’s Seraikela Kharsawan district. He was tied to a pole and assaulted for more than seven hours, say media reports.
He was also forced to chant 'Jai Shree Ram' and 'Jai Hanuman' by the mob, his family alleged. On Wednesday morning, he was handed over to police after he fell unconscious.
"They thrashed him and later gave him to police. He was suspected of theft but it was a communal attack. He was beaten because he had a Muslim name. They made him chant 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Jai Hanuman' again and again. I demand the culprits be arrested," Maqsood Alam, relative of Tabrez was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
A video of the incident, which has gone viral on social media, shows the mob beating Ansari. He is seen chanting and pleading with the mob to stop the assault.
Ansari was in judicial custody when he complained of ill-health and was rushed to Sadar Hospital on Saturday morning. Later, he was shifted to Tata Main Hospital, Jamshedpur, where he was declared brought dead.
According to an Indian Express report, Sadar Hospital Civil Surgeon AN Dey said Ansari could have died of a “cardiac arrest or blockage”. He also added that the exact cause would be ascertained after post-mortem.
Meanwhile, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted about the incident.
"This is the pattern with almost all lynchings. First, a Muslim is murdered by cow lovers. Then the most ridiculous excuses begin: a 'suspicion' of beef possession, theft, smuggling and love jihad. So much for sabka vishwas when we can be killed over mere 'suspicions'," he said.
A case was registered against Ansari under IPC sections 457 (lurking house-trespass or housebreaking by night), 380 (theft), 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) and others.
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