A 58-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by unknown miscreants in Siliguri on Thursday night in a brawl over Rs 500, the police said. While his daughter tried to save him, she also suffered serious injuries and was hospitalised, they said.
No arrest has been made so far. Police force has been deployed in the area to stop further tension in the area. An investigation has been launched by the New Jalpaiguri Police Station and search is on for the miscreants. The police, however claimed, no one will be spared.
The incident took place at around 8.30 pm at ward number 35 of Siliguri Municipal Corporation. According to local sources nearly ten people visited Mohammed Johuri’s house at Rajahuli area of Siliguri, and asked him to pay Rs 500. As Johuri refused to pay the amount, the youth beat him until he fell on the ground.
The men also beat up his daughter, when she tried to save her father. When the neighbours came out of the house, the miscreants fled away. Johuri and his daughter were rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Meanwhile, the Opposition claimed that those miscreants are close to both Trinamool Congress as well as the police.
Local BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh said, “These criminals are on one hand protected by the TMC and surrounded by the police, as they carry out such criminal activities from the safe shelter of the police. The names of those who have been accused have had many complaints before. Their names were also associated with the incident of the MLA of Dabgram. As a result, naturally there is going to be a situation where later on it will be criminals versus people.”
CPIM leader and former MLA of Siliguri Ashok Bhattacharya said, “During TMC regime extortion has become a daily incident. After this incident, people will also fear to protest against extortion.”
However, the Trinamool Congress has denied the allegations. “Such a reprehensible incident cannot be accepted in any way. Police are investigating the incident. It is desirable that the culprits be punished,” local Trinamool leader Jaydeep Nandi said.
