A youth injured in a mob attack while transporting cattle in the Arang police station area died in a hospital in Raipur on Tuesday.
The youth, identified as Saddam Qureshi, a resident of Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, had been undergoing treatment for the last 10 days. He was initially admitted to Balaji Hospital and later transferred to DKS Hospital, where he was on ventilator support. Despite surgery, Qureshi had trouble speaking, and doctors had warned that the next two days would be critical.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) of Raipur, Kirtan Rathore, confirmed that no arrests have been made in connection with the case yet.
On June 7, Qureshi, along with Chand Khan and Guddu Khan, both from Saharanpur, were traveling from Mahasamund to Odisha with cattle in a truck when a group of 10 to 12 youths started chasing them. Realizing they were being followed, they took a U-turn towards Raipur. Near Mahanadi, the group stopped them, assaulted the three, and threw them off a bridge.
Chand Khan succumbed to his injuries on the spot, while Guddu Khan and Qureshi were taken to the hospital. Guddu Khan died during treatment. Qureshi, who had been receiving treatment at a private hospital in Raipur, passed away today.
The Arang Police are investigating the case. CCTV footage from the area has been examined, and locals are being questioned, but the police are still clueless about the assaulters.
Initially, police suggested that the three men had fallen or jumped off the bridge. However, their family members alleged that they were lynched. Chhattisgarh Police registered a case of attempted murder and culpable homicide after Qureshi’s relative, Shoaib, said he had received a frantic call from him while the three were being assaulted.
The Arang Police are investigating the case. CCTV footage from the area has been examined, and locals are being questioned, but the police are still clueless about the assaulters.
