Migrant worker from West Bengal lynched in Haryana over beef rumours

Hours before his death, police had been called to the village by a group of youths, who claimed beef was being cooked and consumed in shanties there. Even as the meat was seized by the police and sent for testing, the accused, police say, took the law into their hands and beat Sabir to death. Sabir’s relatives told The Indian Express that the same day, they had been called to the police station and asked if they consumed beef.

The accused have been identified as Abhishek, Mohit, Kamaljit, Sahil and Ravinder, police said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Dheeraj Kumar told The Indian Express, “On Tuesday (August 27), a group of youths caught a few ragpickers in Hansawas Khurd village and alleged that they were consuming beef. Sabir lived in the same village. Police were also called to the spot, and upon inspection, they found meat being cooked by a few persons living in shanties there. Forensic and veterinary experts inspected the spot and the meat samples were seized to determine if it was actually beef. The report was awaited. Hours later, these accused caught hold of Sabir Malik and assaulted him mercilessly, resulting in his death. The post-mortem examination was conducted and his body handed over to his kin.” Police said most people living in the shanties are migrant workers.

According to investigators, the accused called Malik and his friend Aseeruddin to a shop under the pretense of selling empty plastic bottles, and allegedly assaulted both of them. While Aseeruddin managed to escape, they took Malik on a motorbike to another location and allegedly assaulted him again, which led to his death. His body was later discovered near the shanties where he lived.

Surajuddin Sarker, the complainant and the victim’s brother-in-law, who also stays in the same shanties, reiterated this in his complaint to the police.

He told The Indian Express, “On the afternoon of August 27, three men came and called him, saying that had a lot of discarded material to sell. He took his rickshaw and bags and went with them. His rickshaw was later found in a local market area. He was first beaten near the market, and then taken to a place far away where he was beaten more. His body was found in a nullah around 4.45 pm.”

“Earlier that day, around noon, my father and I had been called to the local police station and asked whether we had beef. We clearly told them we did not, and that it is not available there. Later, my sister told me Sabir had gone away and not returned. I alerted the police, and they eventually found his body,” he said.

“We have worked there for the last five years. Many people knew us. I never thought this would happen to us. If anyone had a problem, they should have told us and we would have left. Why beat him to death?” he said.

According to the police, a Special Investigation Team was constituted to nab the accused, who were arrested on Friday and Saturday.

“The accused were produced in the court and sent to police remand. We are interrogating them for further details. Due to the elections, paramilitary forces are deployed in the state. We are conducting flag marches in the affected areas of Charkhi Dadri to maintain law and order. The situation is normal here and there is no breach of peace,” the DSP said.

Sabir hailed from Miarbheri in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas. At his residence, the family was stunned by the brutality of the crime. They said Sabir had been away from home for the last five years, and would visit every six-seven months.

According to relatives, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banejee called and promised a job for the next of kin.

According to Surajuddin, the Haryana police offered to fly the family to the state because they wanted the body to be buried there. “With folded hands, I pleaded with them. I also made them talk to relatives in Bengal, who too requested for the body to be brought back. Then they finally agreed,” he said. His uncle Babar Ali Mullick too said they had to plead with the police for the body to be brought back.

Sabir’s last rites were performed in his village on Friday evening.

Samirul Islam, TMC’s Rajya Sabha member and Chairman of Migrant Labourer Welfare Board (West Bengal), said, “This is a horrific incident. We are with the family. Our government is in touch with the Haryana government. Migrant workers from Bengal are being targeted in various states. Recently, they were beaten up in Odisha. We want justice for Sabir.”

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