The locals in Diamond Harbour, near Kolkata, had accused Kaushik Purkait of stealing a buffalo.
Highlights
- TMC leader allegedly led a mob against 23-year-old Kaushik Purakait
- People from Harindanga village beat up the student for a missing buffalo
- Badly injured, he died in hospital this morning; ten people named in FIR
A Trinamool Congress leader who allegedly led a mob that lynched a 23-year-old student on the suspicion that he stole a buffalo was arrested in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district early on Friday morning.
Tapas Mullick was produced in court and sent to police custody for 13 days. Lawyers in Diamond Harbour refused to represent Mr Mullick in protest against the crime.
Mr Mullick, who was on the run since the lynching incident on Tuesday, was tracked down by the police with the help of his mobile phone. The state's Criminal Investigation Department will now probe the case.
The Opposition is now blaming the government for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee President Adhir Choudhury told NDTV, "During the last few years of the Trinamool regime, hoodlums, criminals and goons have had a field day. Some of them think they can do this even with the impending regime change in the state. But they cannot continue to do this."
"Imagine a situation in a state where a leader of a political party leads a gang of criminals to beat up a young boy and then extort money too. The arrest has happened only because of the immense public anger against what is happening," said senior CPI(M) leader Bikash Bhattacharya.
The incident took place on Tuesday in Diamond Harbour around 40 km from Kolkata. The student Kaushik Purkait was visiting some relatives when an angry mob thought he had stolen the buffalo that had gone missing a few days ago. His family alleged that they had rushed to his rescue as soon as they heard about the attack. But the mob, they said, would not let Kaushik go even though he was in urgent need of medical attention. He died later at a Kolkata hospital.
Following the student's death, there was tension in the area. On Wednesday, angry villagers allegedly vandalised and set on fire Mr Mullick's house. Police was called in to control the situation.
Four persons have been arrested and 10 people named in a first information report (FIR). The police say they are on the lookout for the rest of the accused.