WATCH | Man lynched by mob in Jharkhand, forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’, dies; main accused held

A 24 year old man accused of stealing a motorcycle died in Jharkhand on Saturday, June 22, a few days after allegedly being thrashed up by a mob. He was forced to chant ‘Jai Sri Ram’ and ‘Jai Hanuman’.

Shams Tabrez was caught by a mob on June 18. He was tied to a pole and was beaten for several hours, and later handed over to the police.

In the latest development, Pappu Mandal, the main accused in the lynching of a Muslim youth in Seraikela district last week has been arrested, Jharkhand Police said on Monday.

Video of the incident which took place in Seraikela, Jharkhand has gone viral and is being widely circulated on social media.

Maqsood Alam, a relative of Tabrez said that he was beaten because he had a Muslim name.

“He was suspected of theft but this was a communal crime. They made him chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Jai Hanuman’ again and again. I demand the culprits be arrested,” said Maqsood Alam, Victim’s relative

Another relative said that he, along with two other friends, was returning home to Seraikela from Jamshedpur, when a mob attacked them, reported NDTV. The incident reportedly happened barely 5 km away from Tabrez’s home.

"There, a motorcycle theft had taken place and these people were passing by... so the villagers caught them and then beat him up very badly. There were two friends with him who ran away," the relative said.

Jharkhand Police sent Tabrez to Seraikela jail, after initial check-up. He was transferred to Sadar hospital in the district after his health deteriorated. He was reportedly declared dead in this hospital.

"My elder brother went to see him at the Saraikela police station. But the officers threatened and shooed them away with lathis, saying 'You have come to talk for the thief'. They threatened to put him in jail as well. We were not allowed to meet him," a relative said.

An FIR has been filed and an investigation is underway. One accused, Pappu Mandal, has been arrested following Tabrez’s death.