14-yr-old beaten to death over goat theft suspicion in Odisha; 12 arrested
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Baripada: A 14-year-old boy was beaten to death and another was critically injured after villagers allegedly thrashed them over suspicion of goat theft in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, police said on Tuesday.
The incident occurred on Monday afternoon at Indokholi Herogoda village under Tiring police station limits. The deceased, identified as Sambit Bindhani (14), was the only son of Rajkumar Bindhani of Bhutakabadi village.
According to police, some locals apprehended Sambit and three of his friends on allegations of stealing a goat. Two of the boys managed to flee, following which the mob allegedly assaulted Sambit and one of his friends.
On receiving information, police rushed to the spot and rescued the two boys in a critical condition, said Rairangpur SDPO Birendra Kumar Senapati. They were first admitted to Jharadihi hospital and later shifted to Rairangpur hospital, where doctors declared Sambit dead.
Sambit had been staying at his maternal uncle’s house and was studying at a government high school in Basingi village under Behalda police station.
Following a complaint lodged by the family at Tiring police station, police registered a murder case and arrested 12 accused persons, said Inspector-in-Charge Prashant Jena. Calling it a sensitive incident, police said the investigation is being carried out with utmost seriousness.
The family of the deceased has demanded a proper probe and justice.
The incident comes days after a mentally challenged man was allegedly beaten to death and two others assaulted by mobs over suspicion of child theft in separate incidents in the district.
With PTI inputs