Kangaroo court: 3 held for attacking cops in Malda
Times of India | 4 November 2024
Malda: Three people have been arrested for attacking police officers who attempted to rescue a couple being assaulted by locals after being tied to a lamp post in Kaliachak, Malda. The footage of the assault, which took place on Tuesday, surfaced on social media on Sunday.
The locals, accusing the couple of immoral behaviour, sought to punish them in a kangaroo court and resisted the police's efforts to intervene. The cops were reportedly attacked with sharp weapons.
According to police, a resident of Sherpur village was speaking with a married woman from a neighbouring village when locals confronted them over an alleged affair. The locals claimed that the families of the couple had complained about this extramarital relationship and wanted it to stop. Determined to ‘teach them a lesson,' the villagers tied the couple to a lamp post and thrashed them.
A group of villagers gathered at Sherpur Masjid More and blocked the police from rescuing the couple, insisting that they would face trial in a kangaroo court. The mob attacked the police with sticks and sickles and began hurling bricks. One officer was injured and later admitted to a rural hospital. A reinforcement team from Kaliachak police station arrived soon after to manage the situation, prompting the unruly mob to flee. The police detained one individual and seized sickles, bamboo sticks and rods from the scene.
Malda police superintendent Pradeep Yadav stated, "About a hundred people were involved in the attack. Thirty-two were identified." Three persons were arrested on Tuesday and placed in police custody after being presented in court. The SP added that a police raid is ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects.