Purulia: One person was lynched to death while another sustained serious injury in an incident of mob lynching. While some locals say suspected cattle theft was behind the mob fury, the police have not confirmed the claim.

The incident took place in the Kotshila police station area of Purulia. The victim has been identified as Gouri Shankar Kumar (35). Injured Sabbir Ansari has been admitted at the Purulia Sadar Hospital.

Kotshila police of Purulia have initiated an investigation into the incident. No one has been arrested in the case yet.

Last night in the Marlang village under the jurisdiction of the Koltshila police station, some locals detained two people under the suspicion they were cattle thieves. The news that ‘cattle thieves’ had been caught red-handed spread rapidly. 

More locals gathered and beat the suspected cattle smugglers mercilessly. Kumar succumbed to his injuries before the police could reach the spot. 

While the police took both the victims to the local block hospital, Kumar was declared brought dead. 

Kumar was a resident of Badrola village while Ansari hails from Bokaro of Jharkhand.

Tension gripped the area following the incident. The police have set up a picket in the area.

The police are trying to ascertain whether this was indeed a case of cattle theft.

The superintendent of police, Purulia, Akash Magharia, while speaking to the media, said last night two thieves entered the Jabar village. He said some locals caught and manhandled them, killing one of them. The condition of the other victim of assault is stable, the police said.

“We have initiated an investigation,” Magharia said. Asked whether this is a case of cattle theft, the SP reiterated that the police are investigating the matter.