Three Arrested in Odisha for Alleged Murder Linked to Cattle Smuggling
Incident Overview
In Odisha, law enforcement has apprehended three individuals suspected of involvement in the brutal murder of a man linked to cattle smuggling in Balasore district. An official confirmed this development on Friday.
Political leaders have reacted strongly to the incident, blaming the state’s BJP government for the rise in religious intolerance.
According to Shubhranshu Shekhar Nayak, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Balasore Sadar, the incident occurred on Wednesday.
Details of the Incident
Initially, a complaint regarding a road accident was filed, but later the victim's brother submitted a written complaint alleging that 35-year-old Makandar Mohammad was killed by a mob attack in Astiya village.
Two First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered at the Balasore Sadar police station. The SDPO informed that the three suspects were remanded to judicial custody on Thursday, and efforts are underway to apprehend additional individuals involved in the attack.
The accused face charges under Section 103(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for murder by mob.
Political Reactions
Akhilesh Yadav, the president of the Samajwadi Party, who is on a two-day visit to the state, commented on the incident, stating that the BJP's agenda is communal. He noted that whenever the party fails to fulfill its electoral promises, it resorts to communal tactics.
Bhakta Charan Das, president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC), expressed in a post that the brutal beating to death of a 35-year-old Muslim man by cow protectors over cattle transportation reflects a severe breakdown of law and order in Odisha. He emphasized that mob rule or vigilante justice cannot be legitimized under any pretext.
Call for Accountability
Taking a life on mere suspicion is a crime, not justice. The government must ensure strict accountability and reinforce the rule of law immediately.
So far, there has been no response from BJP leaders regarding this incident.
According to police reports, a group attacked a 35-year-old man under the suspicion of cattle smuggling, leading to his death later at a hospital in Balasore.
The deceased, Makandar Mohammad, worked as an assistant in a pick-up van. On January 14, while the vehicle was near Sahada village in the Sadar police area, armed individuals stopped the van filled with cattle and assaulted both the driver and the assistant.
Police stated that both the driver and assistant sustained serious injuries, and Mohammad succumbed to his injuries at the hospital on the same day. The police rescued the cattle and transferred them to the Maa Bharti Gaushala.