Two killed, vehicle torched over cattle theft suspicion near Siliguri in West Bengal
Two men were killed and three others injured after a violent mob allegedly attacked a group suspected of cattle theft near Siliguri in West Bengal during the early hours of Friday. The incident unfolded between 2:30 am and 3 am when a crowd began chasing four to five men suspected of stealing cattle in the Matigara and Bagdogra areas. The chase spanned from Tarabari in Matigara to Dhimal Basti in Bagdogra, where the victims were allegedly cornered and assaulted.
Near the Balason River in the Tarabari area under Matigara police station's jurisdiction, a pickup van was allegedly intercepted and set ablaze by the mob. The driver, identified as Md Shahid Akhtar, 45, a resident of Chopra in West Bengal, was dragged out and beaten to death on the spot. A second victim, identified as Shad Mohammad alias Sajjad Mohammad from Haryana, 28, succumbed to multiple severe injuries while undergoing treatment at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital.
Police personnel rescued three injured victims from the scene and transported them to hospital, while one person managed to escape and sought refuge inside a nearby police station. Siliguri Police Commissioner Syed Waquar Raza stated that no arrests have been made yet and investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. The FIR includes charges of murder by mob, voluntarily causing grievous hurt, and mischief by fire or explosive substance.
