Howrah: Man lynched trying to save 13-year-old boy, six arrested

HOWRAH: A middle-aged man was lynched reportedly while trying to intervene and stop youths at an open-air New Year’s Eve party in Howrah from beating up a 13-year-old, whom they accused of theft. The incident took place around 11.45pm near the Daspara locality in Howrah’s Belur on Tuesday. Cops have arrested six youths accused of killing the victim, Debashish Haldar (37).
The accused allegedly struck Haldar with bricks.As he fell on the playground — where two open-air parties were on to usher in the New Year — the attackers started hitting him with bamboo poles. Later, one of them hit him with a brick on his head.
When others tried to lift Haldar, the attackers allegedly tried to stop them. Later, cops from Belur police stationreached the spot and took him to T L Jaiswal State General Hospital where doctors declared him dead. But the accused had fled by then. The victim’s uncle, Bapi Haldar, said: “Youths on the playground were beating up a teenager from Lalababu Sayar locality. When the news of assault reached out neighbourhood, some people, including Debashish, rushed to rescue the boy. He tried to stop the youths from beating up the kid. He also asked them not to drink and play loud music as it was a residential area.” ”
Howrah City Police DC (north) Y Raghubanshi said: “We have arrested six accused, two of whom were identified as Benoy, Abhisekh.”