Rumours, proximity with accused Ananda Sardar led to lynching, say victim’s kin
Times of India | 11 July 2026
Baruipur: Bapi Mondal said his younger brother, Indrajit, was innocent and was killed because of rumours.
“Had my brother followed our advice and distanced himself from Ananda Sardar and his associates, the innocent boy would not have lost his life,” Bapi said while crying at their home on Kulpi Road near Surjapur Hat.
Indrajit, 36, was an auto driver. He was beaten to death by a mob on Sunday after the rape-murder of a minor girl who lived nearby. The mob also damaged his house.
Bapi said rumours spread that Indrajit was involved in the crime. He said Indrajit was only looking out of the window when the mob entered their house, damaged things, dragged him outside and beat him. “Driven by the rumour, they killed my brother who, we suspect, was framed by Sardar,” Bapi said.
Indrajit’s family said he returned home on Saturday evening and did not go out after that. They told this to the mob but they did not believe them.
The family blamed Sardar for damaging Indrajit’s image. They said Indrajit made the mistake of getting close to him.
Indrajit was unmarried. His family included his elderly parents and elder brother Bapi, who is unemployed because of waist pain. The family depended on Indrajit’s earnings.
“The accused of the rape-murder should be punished. My brother did nothing. Rumours claimed his life. Those who lynched him should also be punished,” Bapi said.
Bapi said the family warned Indrajit to stay away from Sardar and his group, but he did not listen. Indrajit used to park his auto near Sardar’s house at night. Bapi said their friendship began there, as Sardar used to watch over the auto. Later, Sardar often travelled in Indrajit’s vehicle and asked him for money for tea.
“Our family never interacted much with that of Sardar who had a bad reputation in the area. So, we warned him to keep a distance but he did not listen to us,” Bapi said. Indrajit’s father, Ajit Mondal, said, “My son was innocent but they killed him.”
He said the mob was violently knocking on the door while Indrajit was sleeping. He pleaded with them and said his son was at home all evening, but they did not listen.
“Had my brother followed our advice and distanced himself from Ananda Sardar and his associates, the innocent boy would not have lost his life,” uttered Bapi Mondal, elder brother of Indrajit Mondal, in between inconsolable sobs at their two-room house on Kulpi Road near Suryapur Hat. The 36-year-old Indrajit, an auto driver, was beaten to death and his house damaged by the mob on Sunday following the rape and murder of a minor who used to live about 500 metres away in the same locality.
“Rumours were spread like wildfire that my brother was involved in the grisly crime. He was peeping from the window what was happening on the road. Soon the mob barged into our house, went on a rampage, and dragged him out and started beating him. A little later, we found him lying motionless on the road. As he used to be seen with Ananda Sardar in the area, the mob denied to believe us that he was innocent. Driven by the rumour, they killed my brother who, we suspect, was framed by Sardar,” Bapi Mondal told TOI.
Indrajit’s family members also claimed that he was at home after returning on Saturday evening. “He did not step out since his return. We told the mob but they did not believe us,” rued his kin. The bereaved family blamed Sardar for maligning the image of Indrajit “who was fool to walk into his trap.”
The lynching victim was unmarried, and his family of three persons – elderly parents and an unemployed elder brother – demanded justice for the brutal crime that took place in their neighbourhood as well as for the killing of the innocent auto driver. “The accused of the rape and murder should be punished. My brother did nothing but rumour claimed his life. Those who lynched him should also be punished,” said Bapi.
The poor family solely banked on Indrajit’s earnings. Bapi was also an auto driver but his waist pain had slammed the brakes on his livelihood, and he did not find any other work in the area.
The mourning kin stated that Indrajit was asked to sever ties with Sardar and his gang but their warning had fallen on his deaf ears. According to Bapi, the lynching victim used to park his auto at night on the bank of a pond near Sardar’s house, situated at a stone’s throw distance. “As far as I know, my brother’s friendship with Sardar started from there. Sardar used to keep watch on his auto at night. Gradually, their friendship deepened and Sardar often moved around in his vehicle, and often asked for money for tea. Our family never interacted much with that of Sardar who had a bad reputation in the area. So, we warned him of keeping a distance but he did not listen to us,” Bapi recounted.
The victim’s elderly father, Ajit Mondal, looking at the photos of deities hung in the room, cried, “My son was innocent but they killed him.” Mopping his tears, the bereaved father recollected, “The mob was knocking on the door violently when my son was sleeping. I pleaded with them that my son was not involved in the crime and also told them he was at home throughout the evening. But they refused to listen and attacked him, barging into the house.”