A 24-year-old man, who was allegedly beaten for hours onsuspicion of stealing a motorcycle and is seen in a purported video beingforced to chant “Jai Shri Ram” and “Jai Hanuman”, died fourdays later, police said on Monday.
A Special Investigation Team has been set up to look intothe death of Tabrez Ansari, who was declared brought dead to the Tata MainHospital in Jamshedpur on June 22, Saturday, police said.
The recently married Ansari was rushed to the SaraikelaSadar (district) Hospital after he complained of uneasiness on June 21, threedays after he was tied to a pole and beaten with sticks through the night ofJune 18. On June 22, he was referred to the Tata Hospital in Jamshedpur.
“We have formed an SIT to probe into the matter… andit has already conducted raids in the area on Sunday night,”Superintendent of Police Karthik S said.
Asked about the purported video of the incident, which isbeing circulated widely on social media and in which a mob is heard forcingAnsari to chant the slogans, Karthik S said a case has been lodged against an accusedfor inciting “communal sentiments”.
“Papu Mandal has been arrested and an inquiry into theincident is on,” the SP added.
Further details of the incident will be disclosed at a mediabriefing later in the day, he said.
Ansari’s assault took place on June 18 when he was returninghere from Jamshedpur, about 30 km from here, with two friends.
Some villagers caught them and accused them of stealing amotorcycle at Dhatkidih village in Seraikela-Kharsawan district, policeofficials said.
Though Ansari’s friends managed to escape, he was tied to apole and beaten up with sticks through the night, they said.
He was then handed over to police by the villagers, the SPsaid.
Ansari’s wife has filed a complaint in which she has namedseveral people, a police officer said.
“The police should have taken him to a hospital,instead of arresting and sending him to jail,” Shaista Praveen, whorecently got married to Ansari, said in her complaint.