West Bengal youth lynched by drunken mob; locals protest

Lynching of a youth for protesting against public nuisance by a group of drunk miscreants has triggered tension in the Bakultala police station area in Jaynagar. Tensions have been simmering since Sunday (June 1, 2025) night when the youth, Sayem Khan, was allegedly verbally threatened, and then beaten to death after he opposed a group of drunkards reportedly creating nuisance in public.

Another person was grievously injured in the attack. The West Bengal police have arrested two, and named 13 people, including the prime accused Sadiqullah Gazi, in the First Information Report.

Local residents have been agitating since Monday demanding that the accused be arrested and charged the police with inaction to prevent Sayem Khan’s unfortunate death.

Superintendent of Police of Baruipur, Palashchandra Dhali said on Wednesday that they were probing the incident. He said the deceased’s family had come to the Bakultala police station and was asked by police personnel to lodge a formal complaint.

“However, until Sunday night, we received no complaint regarding public consumption of alcohol there, or public nuisance, which they had reportedly protested against. We would have taken action if they had intimated us,” Mr. Dhali said.

A section of locals however alleged that the violence unfolded on account of a turf war between two local factions of the Trinamool Congress.

“The deceased used to work in Kolkata and was visiting home. He was not part of the ruckus. However, he sustained injuries from those who were creating ruckus. He was rushed to a hospital in Baruipur, where he was pronounced dead. We stand with the family, the accused will be punished,” said Jaynagar’s Trinamool MLA Biswanath Das.

Selim Khan, a relative of the deceased, alleged that after their family protested against the drunken nuisance, the group of miscreants dispersed, and came back with a larger group, armed with sticks, rods, and explosives.

“In the presence of police personnel on Sunday, the miscreants threatened to kill Sayem before next morning. The police did not act on the threat. Then a group of 50-60 people came back and violently attacked my uncle and brother. My brother was half dead before he was taken to the hospital,” Mr. Selim Khan said.

Published - June 04, 2025 08:03 pm IST