By Ghazala Ahmad
A 46-year-old Muslim cattle trader, Jalilur Rahman, was beaten to death by a mob after they accused him of cattle theft in Bagber village under Kalyanpur police station in Tripura, a claim his family outrightly denies, triggering protests demanding justice in the area.
Rahman, son of Habibur Rahman and a resident of the area adjoining Ghilatali Market, was attacked in the early hours of Wednesday while he was taking away two cattle he had purchased from a local farmer, according to his family and local sources.
The family denied that Rahman was stealing the cattle, saying he had purchased them from farmer Anukul Debnath the previous day but could not take possession of them immediately because it was Tuesday, when the weekly market was held in the area.
Speaking to Maktoob on condition of anonymity, a resident said, “He had m gone to collect the cattle before dawn so that he could take them to the cattle market at Bagan Bazar on Wednesday.”
“Rahman was taking the cattle from the farmer’s house around 4–4:30 am on Wednesday, when some residents saw him and accused him of being a cattle thief. He was then surrounded and brutally assaulted”, the local said.
He alleged that Rahman suffered severe injuries, including fractures to his hands and legs, before collapsing at the spot. Despite his condition, Rahman managed to call his family and inform them that he had been attacked.
“When his wife and father-in-law rushed towards the spot after receiving the call, they were also assaulted”, the local added.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.