Palamu, Jharkhand (Gurpreet Singh): A 22-year-old man, identified as Pawan Ram, was allegedly lynched by a mob in the Teliyahi village of Jharkhand’s Palamu district late Saturday night. The victim was reportedly tied up and brutally assaulted by a group of villagers who claimed they caught him attempting to steal a battery from a tractor. However, local authorities have noted that no stolen property was recovered from the deceased, and alternative motives for his presence in the village are currently being explored.
A police patrolling team arrived at the scene around 12:30 a.m. after receiving a tip-off about a “thief” being caught. Upon arrival, they found the victim severely injured and bound. Although officers rescued him and rushed him to the nearest medical facility, he was declared dead on arrival. Palamu Superintendent of Police Reeshma Ramesan stated that the investigation is now looking into whether the victim was actually there to meet a romantic partner and was subsequently targeted by villagers using the theft accusation as a pretext.
Legal Action and Investigative Steps
The Medininagar police have categorized the incident as a clear case of mob lynching.
- Arrests and Manhunt: One suspect, identified as 35-year-old Paras Nath Mehta, has been detained. Police have launched a specialized manhunt to identify and arrest the remaining individuals involved in the assault.
- Formal Charges: An FIR has been registered under Section 103(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which specifically deals with murder committed by a group on grounds such as race, caste, or community.
- Medical Examination: A post-mortem is being conducted by a medical board in the presence of a magistrate. To ensure transparency and gather forensic evidence, the entire procedure is being documented through video and photography.
Community and Security Context
The incident has caused significant tension in the Padwa police station area. Local officials are working to maintain order while ensuring a thorough investigation into the “moral policing” aspect of the crime. The SDPO Rajesh Kumar reiterated that the lack of any recovered stolen items significantly weakens the theft narrative and points toward a deliberate act of group violence. As the investigation continues, police are urging citizens not to take the law into their own hands and to report suspicious activities to the authorities directly.
