New Delhi: One person was killed, and four others sustained serious injuries in a mob attack that occurred in Kokrajhar, Assam, on Monday evening, as five people were allegedly mistaken for cattle thieves, and a group of people attacked them and set their vehicle on fire.
According to the police, the victims were travelling in a Scorpio vehicle and were associated with a road construction project. They were returning to Kokrajhar after inspecting a site. Locals stopped their vehicle on the Gouri Nagar-Mashing Road stretch and suspected them of being cattle thieves.
The vehicle was involved in an accident and skidded off the road during the confrontation. Then the mobs attacked the victims and set their car on fire, leaving them with severe burn injuries later on.
Police, along with the rescue team, rushed to the spot immediately and controlled the situation. All five were taken to a nearby hospital, where one of them- identified as Sikhna Jwhwlao Bismit, alias Raja- was declared dead, succumbing to his injuries. He was the son-in-law of contractor Moranda Basumatary, who is also associated with the road construction project.
The other four, identified as Prabhat Brahma, Jubiraj Brahma, Sunil Murmu, and Mahesh Murmu, sustained serious injuries, and their treatment is now being undertaken at the Kokrajhar Medical College and Hospital. Prabhat’s condition remains critical, doctors said.
An FIR has been launched, and the police have arrested 19 people so far in connection with the mob attack. Kokrajhar MLA Lawrence Islary confirmed that strict actions will be taken against the culprits involved in the incident.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident, as several people have been detained for questioning in connection with the attack.
Tension rose in the Karigaon area of Kokrajhar as protestors blocked the National Highway, pelted stones, and gheraoed a police station after the mob attack.