Jharkhand man beaten to death: Kin trash theft charge

Mubarak Ansari and Akhtar Ansari (26) were assaulted by a mob in Govindpur — less than 2 km from his residence — allegedly while they were returning with the stolen battery. He was later rushed to the hospital, but doctors declared him brought dead. Akhtar is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Mubarak’s wife Farjana Khatun trashed the theft allegation. “We had sufficient money to lead our lives. My husband went to jail many years ago in a petty case. In the last 20 years, there was no case against him. We have farm land and were supposed to harvest the paddy in a few days. Last night, my husband went to check the farm because he feared that our crops would be destroyed by stray cattle,” she said.

Mubarak Ansari (48) and Akhtar Ansari (26) were attacked in Bokaro’s Govindpur early on Wednesday when they were returning home with the stolen battery, police said.

Farjana said she regrets falling asleep after he left. “In the morning, I came to know that he was beaten and then he had died,” she said, adding, “hume insaaf chahiye (we want justice).”

She also indicated that the assault on Mubarak could be a fallout of an earlier clash between her husband and residents of Govindpur. “People would drink and throw bottles in our farm. A few years ago, there was a ruckus. I think they wanted to take revenge,” she said.

Bokaro SP P Murugan said, “Mubarak Ansari apparently went to jail for cable theft in 1998.” On the ruckus Farjana referred to, he said, “We have no information on it. As of now, he was beaten for stealing a battery. We have also recovered a battery.”

Karim Ansari, a resident of Nayibasti and a member of Sadar Anjuman Committee, said he had received information of the assault from a Govindpur villager. “On reaching there, I saw both of them writhing in pain. I wanted to untie them, but the mob stopped me. I called up the police and only after they arrived, the two were rushed to the hospital.His hands appeared to be dislocated, jaw broken and he was barely breathing,” said Karim.