In a disturbing incident that has sparked public outrage, 27-year-old Abdul Kalam was lynched by a mob in Jharkhand’s Bokaro district on May 8. Kalam was tied up and brutally beaten by locals in Narayanpur, under Nawadih block. The police intervenedbut he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
According to police reports, Kalam was attacked around 11 a.m. by a mob that accused him of harassing a girl. A viral video of the incident shows Abdul Kalam with his hands bound, surrounded by a violent crowd. Despite his visible injuries and repeated pleas for water, he was denied help and threatened with death. He never confessed to the alleged crime in the video, raising serious concerns over the legitimacy of the accusations.
Narayanpur Sub-Inspector Nitish Kumar confirmed that two individuals –BaharamManjhi and RupamManjhi– have been arrested, and efforts are on to identify and apprehend other culprits. An FIR has been registered.
Iqbal, a local resident, stated that the post-mortem was conducted on May 9 and the burial was pending at the time of reporting. He said even if Abdul Kalam had committed a crime, justice should have been sought through lawful means, not mob violence.
Kalam was the sole breadwinner for his elderly mother after the death of his father. His two brothers are working in Ajmer and Pune.
Human rights activist Afzal Anees questioned the state government’s inaction on mob lynching laws.