Razia Sultana, the wife of 45-year-old Sahid Akhtar, who was killed in a mob attack in the Matigara-Bagdogra area of Siliguri following suspicion of cattle theft, has demanded justice for her husband.
On Sunday, Razia lodged a complaint at Bagdogra Police Station against those allegedly involved in the attack.
Akhtar, a resident of Sonapur under Chopra Police Station in Uttar Dinajpur district, was one of two men who died after locals allegedly attacked a group of five people in the early hours of Saturday. Another victim, Shad Mohammad of Haryana, later died while undergoing treatment. Three others were injured in the violence.
‘They Beat Him to Death’
Speaking to local media after filing the complaint, Razia, visibly distressed, demanded action against those responsible for her husband’s death.
“They could have broken his arms and legs, but instead they beat him to death. Where will I go now with my three children? I want justice for the brutal murder of my husband,” she said.
Razia said Akhtar had been working for around 10 years, transporting cattle and buffaloes in his vehicle on a hired basis.
She said he left home at around 8.30 pm on Friday, October 2, as part of his routine work and was expected to return the following morning.
However, on Saturday morning, she received a call from an unknown number informing her that Akhtar’s vehicle had allegedly been intercepted by villagers in the Bagdogra area and that he was being severely beaten.
She said the caller urged the family to inform the police immediately.
‘He Left Home for Work and Never Returned’
Razia alleged that villagers should have handed Akhtar over to the police if they suspected him of committing an offence instead of taking the law into their own hands.
“The villagers could have handed him over to the police or called us to say they had detained him. Instead, they beat him to death. There are legal procedures and there are ways to deal with such situations. Instead, they took my husband away from us. We will never get him back,” she said.
Razia maintained that her husband was not involved in cattle theft and had gone to the area to earn a living.
According to the family, Akhtar had no known history of criminal activity. They have disputed allegations that he was involved in cattle theft or smuggling.
Family Loses Its Sole Breadwinner
Akhtar’s death has left his family facing an uncertain future.
Razia said her husband was the primary source of income for the household and had also been suffering from several health problems, including high blood pressure and diabetes.
“I have three children, including a 19-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son. Who will look after them now? Who will take responsibility for their future?” she asked.
She urged the police to identify and arrest those responsible for the attack and called for the case to be pursued through the legal system.
What Happened in the Early Hours of Saturday?
According to police, a group of five people arrived in the Tarabari area of Matigara at around 2.30 to 3 am on Saturday in a pickup vehicle.
Local residents reportedly became suspicious of their presence amid concerns over alleged cattle thefts in the area. The group was allegedly intercepted and attacked by locals.
The pickup vehicle was set on fire, while another vehicle was damaged. Some of the men reportedly fled towards the Dhimal area, where they were allegedly intercepted again and assaulted.
Akhtar, who was reportedly driving the pickup vehicle, suffered severe injuries and died at the scene.
Police later rescued the injured men and took them to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital. Shad Mohammad subsequently died while undergoing treatment.
The three surviving injured men, identified by police as residents of Haryana, remain under treatment.
Police Investigate Cattle Theft Allegation and Mob Attack
Siliguri Metropolitan Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident.
Additional Commissioner of Police, Siliguri, Anirban Majumdar, said the incident began in the Tarabari area under Matigara and subsequently extended towards areas under Bagdogra and Panighata police stations.
“The incident started at Tarabari in the Matigara area and then spread to the Bagdogra and Panighata police station areas. One person died at Tarabari, while another, who was undergoing treatment, later succumbed to his injuries,” Majumdar told the media.
He said police were investigating the circumstances of the entire incident, including whether the men were actually involved in cattle theft or whether there was another motive behind their presence in the area.
Police are also examining CCTV footage and conducting searches to identify those allegedly involved in the mob attack.
