Guwahati: A 30-year-old man from Assam was allegedly lynched by a group of his coworkers in the early hours of Wednesday at a plywood factory in Mudickal, near Perumbavoor in Kerala.
The victim has been identified as Noor Hasan, a native of Central Assam’s Nagaon district.
According to reports, the violence broke out around 6:00 AM at the workers’ quarters of AM Veneers. According to preliminary police reports, the conflict began when the accused noticed that several mobile phones and a sum of cash were missing from their room.
Suspicion fell on Noor Hasan, who was allegedly confronted by the group. The situation quickly escalated into a brutal physical assault. Reports indicate that the victim was restrained and beaten with wooden logs and rollers found on the factory premises.
The assault was so severe that the victim sustained multiple fractures and internal injuries. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
The Perumbavoor Police have taken six individuals into custody, all of whom are also natives of Assam and worked at the same unit. The arrested individuals have been identified as Alauddin, Minarul, Zakir Hussain, Habizuddin, Hassan Ali, and Muzammil.
The suspects have been booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 103(1) for murder and sections pertaining to unlawful assembly and common intention.
While the accused claimed the victim was caught attempting to steal seven mobile phones and approximately Rs 73,000 in cash, police officials stated that they are still verifying the authenticity of the theft allegations.
“We are investigating whether a theft actually occurred or if this was a result of a tragic misunderstanding,” a senior police officer noted.
The body has been moved to the Perumbavoor Taluk Hospital for inquest proceedings before being shifted for a post-mortem examination.