Two arrested after Jharkhand man lynched for ‘sexually harassing’ woman

Both the man and the woman are from the same area, according to sources.

Kalam’s cousin, Mohammed Iqbal, said he was the sole caregiver for his mother, a woman with physical disabilities. “He was working to support his mother, who is fully dependent on him. Despite the viral video clearly showing more than 15 people, the police have arrested only two. That too, under public pressure,” Iqbal said.

Another local resident, Mohammad Jalaluddin, said Kalam was tied up and beaten unconscious after the woman’s accusation. “He was left lying in the sun. It was only after the incident was reported to the local police station that he was rushed to the hospital. However, he died before reaching the facility,” Jalaluddin said.

The video, which has since gone viral, shows a mob purportedly hitting Kalam with sticks and kicking him while forcing him to confess. In the footage, Kalam is seen begging for water.

The video has not been independently verified by The Indian Express and is yet to be set for a forensic analysis, as is mandated by Supreme Court guidelines.

Bokaro Superintendent of Police Manoj Swargiary confirmed the arrests and said further action would be taken in line with directions from the Police Headquarters (PHQ). “The man was wrong. People alleged that he harassed a woman. There is no need to send the video to the FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory), as we are identifying the suspects using the video itself,” he said.

When asked whether a nodal officer, as mandated by the Supreme Court in mob lynching cases, had been appointed, Swargiary said that all procedures were being followed “legally under PHQ (police headquarters) guidance”.