A migrant worker from Assam was allegedly beaten to death by a group of his co-workers in Kerala following suspicions of mobile phone theft, police said.
The incident took place on Tuesday night at a plywood factory in Mudickal, near Perumbavoor. The victim has been identified as Noor Hasan, a native of Assam. Police have arrested six accused in connection with the case, all of whom are migrant workers from the same state.
The arrested accused have been identified as Alauddin, Minarul, Zakir Hussain, Habeesuddin, Hasan Ali and Muzammil. According to preliminary findings, three of the accused are brothers. Initially, authorities had difficulty identifying the deceased, assuming him to be an unregistered migrant labourer from another locality, but his identity was later confirmed.
Police said the assault was allegedly triggered by suspicions that Noor had entered the accused persons’ room with the intention of stealing mobile phones and cash. As per statements recorded by investigators, it was customary for the workers to keep their mobile phones together in a bucket before leaving for work. The accused claimed that upon returning, they found Noor attempting to open the container and allegedly steal seven mobile phones and cash worth Rs 1 lakh.
Also read: Man lynched on suspicion of child theft in Jharkhand
However, Station House Officer Anil of Perumbavoor police station said it remains unclear whether any theft actually took place or whether the incident was the result of a misunderstanding. “We are investigating all aspects, including whether any valuables were stolen,” he said.
According to police, the six men allegedly dragged Hasan into their room, locked the door from inside, and brutally assaulted him using a wooden roller. The victim sustained severe injuries. Local residents, alerted by distressing sounds from the room, rushed to the spot and intervened.
Noor was immediately taken to a private hospital in Perumbavoor, but he succumbed to his injuries shortly after. A police team led by the Circle Inspector conducted a detailed inspection of the crime scene. The body has been kept in the hospital mortuary and will be shifted to Kalamassery Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination after inquest proceedings.
Police are currently interrogating the accused to determine whether they have any prior criminal background. Investigators are also collecting statements from factory management and other workers to establish the sequence of events and the exact reason for the victim’s presence in the room.
The incident has raised concerns over a recent rise in violent clashes among migrant labourers in the state. Police officials said minor disputes and unverified allegations are increasingly escalating into serious crimes.
Authorities have also announced that routine inspections at workplaces and residential camps of migrant workers will be intensified in the coming days as a preventive measure.
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