Chaibasa: Three men from Bihar were killed in West Singhbhum, Jharkhand, after being beaten to death on suspicion of goat theft. The victims have been identified as Rakesh Kumar (26) and his brother Ramesh Kumar (22) from Kolhua Thikha in Shivhar district, and Tulsi Kumar (24) from Patahi in Motihari district. The incident occurred in Jatrama, a heavily Naxal-affected area, and the police were informed on Tuesday evening.
The three men had been living in Band village in Jatrama, where they worked as street hawkers. On Sunday, they set out for work on a bike but were caught by villagers in Jatrama, accused of stealing a goat, and beaten severely. They were also attacked with bricks and stones, leading to their deaths on the spot. Their bodies were discovered by family members on Tuesday by the riverbank after they failed to return home.
Police are investigating the case and suspect the involvement of the Naxalite organization PFLI, as the victims’ bike and belongings were missing from the scene. This has led to speculation that the murder may have been committed for robbery rather than just goat theft.
Tulsi Kumar’s maternal uncle mentioned that the family was aware of the dangers in the area and the presence of Naxalites, but despite warnings from the police, Tulsi continued to work in that region. Tulsi had been working as a street vendor in Jharkhand for the past five to six years and had left his home just a month ago. He is survived by his wife and two sons, who live with his father in the village.
