A 32-year Muslim man Sheru Susadiya was lynched in Rajasthan’s Bilwara by a mob who suspected him of cattle smuggling on September 16.
Susadiya who hails from Multanpura in Mandsaur. He and his friend Mohsin had bought a bull from a fair in Bhilwara’s Lambiya. After the deal, when they were returning home at around 3am they noticed a truck driving after them. The truck eventually blocked them and many other men immediately arrived on motorbikes.
Both men were dragged out of the vehicle and mercilessly thrashed by the mob who accused them of slaughtering cows. Despite Susadiya and Mohsin repeatedly affirming that they were only transporting purchased cows, the mob continued to assault them.
A complaint was filed by Susadiya’s cousin Manzoor Pemla. He named the accused men as Deva Gurjar, Kunal Malpura, Pradeep Rajpurohit, Nitesh Saini and many anonymous individuals. They have been booked under the relevant sections of BNS for attempted murder, voluntarily causing hurt, wrongful restraint, extortion and unlawful assembly. He also confirmed that, fortunately, Mohsin managed to escape during the attack.
In the FIR, Manzoor alleged, “They attacked Sheru and seized cash of Rs 36,000. Around 3:30 am, I received a call from Kunal Malpura who threatened me by saying if I wish to see Sheru alive, I must bring with me a cash of Rs 50,000.”
The family kept trying to reach him, but Sheru’s phone remained switched off after the assault. They were informed the next day around afternoon by the Banera police station that he was admitted in Bhilwara hospital.
Manzoor said, “Sheru had sustained head injuries. When we reached the Bhilwara hospital, he was already referred to another hospital in Jaipur.”
After fighting for three long days, Sheru succumbed to his severe head injuries.
The Bhilwara police have confirmed that in connection with the case, five persons have been arrested and sent to judicial custody. A case of cattle smuggling has also been registered and investigation has been initiated in both cases. However, one of the family members, Farooq alleged that the family is not sure who the five arrested were and demanded that all culprits must be arrested as soon as possible.
Sheru is survived by his wife and two children.
