55-year-old man beaten to death over alleged cattle theft in India

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A 55-year old Muslim man was beaten to death by a mob over suspicion of cattle theft in the India state Bihar’s Araria district, Times Nowreported.

The man who has been identified as Kabul Miyan was beaten to death by a mob of 300 on December 29 in Simarbani village, about 300 km from Patna. The incident came to light only two days ago after a video of the man pleading with the attackers went viral in the area.

In the video, Kabul can be seen being kicked in the face, hit with sticks and repeatedly called chor (thief). The attackers can be heard laughing and encouraging each other to continue thrashing the man as he pleads with the mob that he no reasons to steal anyone’s cattle. Despite his pleas, the attackers beat him to death.

Attackers can also be heard suggesting that the video be uploaded online.

“There is a practice of cattle stealing and smuggling in that [Araria] area. In this case, too, some people tried to steal the cattle of a man called Muslim Miyan. But the villagers who were keeping a vigil started shouting and the thieves ran away. Villagers ran after them and got hold of Kabul and beat him. By the time the police could reach the spot, the mob had killed him,” a police official told Times Now.

Authorities have lodged an FIR against unknown individuals.