A violent incident of mob lynching unfolded early Saturday morning in Tarabari near Bagdogra, on the outskirts of Siliguri in West Bengal, when villagers surrounded and brutally assaulted a group of individuals suspected of attempting to steal cattle. The assault resulted in the death of 45-year-old Shahit Akhtar, a resident of Sonapur Chopra in North Bengal, while three other individuals sustained critical injuries. Law enforcement officers intervened to rescue the survivors and rushed them to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, where they remain under medical treatment.
Early Morning Confrontation and Arson in Tarabari
The trouble began during the pre-dawn hours of Saturday when a group of approximately 5 suspects reportedly arrived in the Tarabari area travelling in a pickup van. Alert residents noticed suspicious activity and suspected that the group had entered the locality with the intention of lifting cattle. Local villagers acted quickly, raising an alarm and encircling the pickup van before the occupants could make an exit.
While the encirclement was underway, 2 additional men arrived at the scene in a four-wheeler vehicle to assist the stranded group. The gathering mob quickly overpowered and detained the newcomers as well. The agitated crowd proceeded to tie up and severely beat the suspects. In the ensuing frenzy, villagers torched the pickup van, reducing it to a charred shell, and heavily vandalised the second four-wheeler. The violence proved fatal for Shahit Akhtar, while his associates suffered grievous injuries.
Police Deployment, Vehicle Recovery, and Ongoing Investigation
Upon receiving distress alerts regarding the mob violence, police personnel reached the location and managed to disperse the crowd. Officers retrieved the wounded individuals and immediately transferred them to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital for emergency intervention. The scene was secured, and police seized both the burned pickup van and the damaged four-wheeler.
Officers attached to the Panighata outpost subsequently arrested one person in connection with the incident, while two other individuals remain at large. Police authorities are continuing a detailed investigation into both the allegations of cattle theft and the fatal mob violence, with efforts underway to track down the absconding suspects.
