BAREILLY: A Dubai-based expat was beaten to death by a 50-strong mob in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly on suspicion that he was allegedly being involved in buffalo theft.
The victim was identified as 20-year-old Shahrukh Khan, who worked as a tailor in Dubai and had visited his family in Uttar Pradesh’s Thiria Nizawat for Eid Al Adha a month ago.
Speaking to the Indian Express, the victim’s elder brother Feroz said, “Around 8 pm on Tuesday, Shahrukh was called out of his house by his friends Mazid Ali, Abid and one unidentified person. When he did not return home till late in the night, I made enquiries, and was told that Mazid had not returned home either.
Shahrukh and three others were reportedly spotted by the villagers in the cattle yard of one Gajendra Pal and gave them a chase. The youths ran towards the Nakatiya river to save their lives.
While three of them knew how to swim and fled, Shahrukh, who did not know swimming, was stranded on the banks fell into the hands of frenzied villagers and was badly thrashed before handing him over to the police.
At around 6 am on Wednesday morning, Feroz got a call from a policeman informing Shahrukh was admitted to a district hospital in a serious condition.
“We rushed to the hospital. Shahrukh, who had bruises all over his body, told us that he was asked by Mazid and others to accompany them to the nearby Bholapur Hindolia village to steal buffalo and he unwillingly went with their plan. They had also given him tablets containing drugs,” said Feroz.
Shahrukh succumbed to injuries in front of his family members and relatives while undergoing treatment.
The post-mortem report has revealed that the 20-year-old died of internal injuries inflicted primarily on the liver and kidneys.
The victim’s family members have refuted the charge of theft and told Shahrukh need not indulge in buffalo theft as he was earning well in Dubai as a tailor but Mazid, Abid and one of their unidentified friends have a criminal background.
Both sides have lodged FIRs.
Shahrukh’s brother has filed a complaint against 20-25 unnamed persons and three of his associates. The side which alleged buffalo theft has also lodged a case.
In the recent past, several cases of mob lynching sparked by cattle theft have been reported from western and central parts of Uttar Pradesh.