A young man died after he was allegedly beaten by a mob on Thursday. The violence erupted following a road accident that led to accusations of attempted abduction and molestation.
Odisha Police, meanwhile, have arrested four persons in connection with the killing.
According to Police Commissioner Suresh Dev Dutta Singh, the sequence of events began near Bhingarpur when a motorcycle, carrying two young men, collided with a scooter ridden by two female students. The impact caused the students to fall off the scooter.
While the Commissioner noted that the two men reportedly returned to the scene to assist the students, the situation escalated rapidly. The women alleged that the men’s actions were not helpful but were instead an attempt to abduct them, amounting to molestation and attempted rape.
Hearing the girl students’ screams, local residents gathered at the spot. The situation turned into an “act of lawlessness” as the crowd allegedly assaulted one of the men. Despite the Police Control Room (PCR) team arriving within eight minutes of the distress call, the victim had already sustained critical injuries. He was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.
Police Commissioner said, “In Bhingarpur, a rural area located in the Balianta PS Rural Areas, on the outskirts of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Commissionerate, a young man was murdered. Two young men were travelling on a bike towards Bhingarpur, while two female students were travelling on a scooter. The bike collided with the scooter, causing the girls to fall off. The bike riders returned and tried to rescue them. However, the girls allege that this attempted abduction amounted to molestation and an attempt to rape. They have filed a report, which is being investigated. Hearing their screams, people gathered nearby and attacked the young man, who was also challenging the crowd.”
Commissioner Singh said the Police Control Room (PCR) team reached the spot within eight minutes of receiving the distress call.
“The young man suffered serious injuries as a result of this act of lawlessness. The PCR arrived eight minutes after receiving the call. He was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital. A manhunt is underway. Four people have been arrested, and the remaining individuals are being arrested.”
