A Muslim man named Sheikh Nazrul was beaten to death on suspicion of being a thief. It is alleged that the 40-year-old Nazrul was thrown onto the street and assaulted. The incident occurred on Tuesday in Chandannagar’s Harijan Palli area in West Bengal’s Hooghly district. The deceased’s family lodged a written complaint with the Chandannagar police station.
According to local sources, Sheikh Nazrul was a resident of Chalke Para in Ward 24 of Chandannagar Municipality and worked in a chemical factory near Delhi Road. “Three people, including Bhola, surrounded Nazrul and attacked him, demanding money. When he refused to pay, they threw him onto the street and beat him,” a local said.
According to the police, Sheikh Nazrul and his son Rahul were transporting some iron parts via a Toto (e-rickshaw) through Harijan Palli. At that moment, the flower merchant Shanu Chattopadhyay, also known as Bhola, grew suspicious of Nazrul, suspecting him of theft. Several others, including Bhola, cornered Nazrul and beat him. They slapped, kicked, and punched him near the Swagatam Lodge in Harijan Palli. Nazrul fell critically ill due to the severe beating. His son managed to rescue him and rushed him to Chandannagar Sub-Divisional Hospital. However, doctors there pronounced him dead.
Sheikh Rahul, the deceased’s son, while talking to The Observer Post said, “My father used to work in a factory along Delhi Road and also engaged in buying and selling old iron parts. This morning, while transporting those parts towards Harijan Palli, the flower merchant Bhola accused my father of carrying stolen goods and began assaulting him. I fled from the spot. Later, upon returning with my uncle, I found my father lying on the road. When we transported him to the hospital, the doctors informed us of his demise.”
Upon receiving the information, police led by DC Chandannagar arrived. DC Chandannagar Ishani Paul stated, “The accused Shanu Chattopadhyay, alias Bhola, has been apprehended. The suspect is undergoing interrogation, and CCTV footage of the area is under scrutiny. A case has been registered based on the complaint.”
