'Child-lifter' beaten up in Koderma, dies

RANCHI: A 31-year-old man died on Saturday afternoon, a few hours after he was allegedly beaten up by a mob in Koderma on suspicion of being a child-lifter.


While the police claim the man and three others planned to carry out a theft in the area near the railway godown in Koderma, local residents blocked the Ranchi-Patna national highway around 9.30am on Sunday and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits, compensation for the family of the deceased and jobs for his relatives.

The blockade was lifted after police gave an immediate assistance of Rs 5,000 to the family members and assured the protesters that their demands will be forwarded to the sub-divisional officer. Three railway employees have also been booked.

According to his family members, Sunil Yadav had missed a train to his hometown of Hazaribagh and was waiting at Koderma railway station on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday when he was thrashed by a mob on suspicion of being a child-lifter. Yadav, a labourer, was initially admitted to a private hospital in Koderma but was shifted to the district hospital after his family members arrived. Yadav succumbed to his injuries on Saturday afternoon.

Koderma SP M Tamil Banan, however, said, "Our information suggests Yadav had gone to the railway station with three others with the intention to steal from the vicinity of the railway godown. Yadav was caught by some railway staffers and beaten up."

Police officers said a case has been registered against three railway employees on the basis of a written complaint by Yadav's brother, Dilip Kumar. They added, however, that they could not question or detain the employees as the offices of the accused were shut on Sunday.

Confirming the developments, Banan said, "A case has been registered against three railway employees, including a guard." When he was asked about Sunday's protest, he said, "The protest did not last long as police acted swiftly and assured the protesters of a speedy investigation. We are probing the case from all angles, including the family's allegation of Yadav being beaten up on suspicion of being a child-lifter."