A tragic language barrier allegedly cost a man from Kerala his life in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, where he was lynched by a mob after being unable to explain his identity to locals.
Police have arrested seven individuals, including two minors, in connection with the incident that took place in the Kultali area. The accused were produced before a court on Sunday, and cases have been registered against them under multiple sections, including assault, unlawful assembly, and causing death. The investigation is ongoing.
According to police, the victim had travelled from Kerala to the Sankijahan area of Kultali for work-related purposes and was visiting an acquaintance. On the morning of June 9, he reportedly went to a local market but accidentally wandered into an unfamiliar neighbourhood.
“Unfamiliar with the local language, the man was unable to communicate with residents, as he could neither speak nor understand Bengali. His inability to explain his presence reportedly raised suspicion among villagers,” said a police officer.
Locals allegedly detained the man and began questioning him. However, as he failed to clearly establish his identity due to the language barrier, tensions escalated. Suspecting him to be a thief and a child lifter, a group of youths tied him with a rope and subjected him to a brutal beating.
A video of the incident later surfaced on social media, showing a man being assaulted while tied up. While its authenticity has not been independently verified, the footage prompted swift police action.
Police from Kultali Police Station reached the spot, rescued the victim in a critical condition, and rushed him to Jaynagar-Kultali Rural Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. His body was sent for post-mortem examination.
An FIR was registered on June 13 after the investigation began. Initially, eight individuals, including two minors, were detained. Later, seven were formally arrested based on evidence gathered.
Arbind Kumar Anand, Superintendent of Police for Baruipur Police District, confirmed the arrests, stating that the case is being treated with utmost seriousness. He added that further investigation is underway and more individuals may be identified.
Authorities are also working to establish the deceased’s identity and contact his family.
The incident has triggered political reactions, with BJP leader Utpal Naskar condemning the act as “barbaric” and demanding strict punishment for those involved. He warned that such incidents could have wider implications, particularly for migrant workers from West Bengal employed in other states, including Kerala.
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