9, Including Woman Arrested for Beating Man to Death in Jharkhand Over Mobile Phone Dispute

Jamshedpur: Nine individuals, including a 35-year-old widow, were arrested on Saturday for allegedly beating a man to death about a month ago following a dispute over a mobile phone in the Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, according to a police officer.

The body of the victim, Rajaram Soren, a 24-year-old man, was recovered from Laylayam forest under the jurisdiction of the Bodam police station. The body had visible injury marks, stated Superintendent of Police (City & Rural) Rishabha Garg.

Investigations revealed that Soren had the woman’s mobile phone and was reluctant to return it to her. This led to a quarrel which attracted the attention of villagers who rushed to her house and allegedly beat the man to death.

The accused people then dumped the body in the forest, the SP said.

SP Garg said that Soren, a resident of another village under the Patamda police station, was a frequent visitor to the widow’s home. When asked if there was a relationship between the victim and the widow, Garg said that angle would be investigated.

Man Allegedly Beaten To Death At Kolkata Hostel

A man was allegedly beaten to death at a state-run hostel for students in central Kolkata's Bowbazar area on 28 June over suspicion of mobile phone theft, police said.

The victim, identified as Irshad Alam (37) -- a resident of Belgachia, used to work as a mechanic at an electronics shop in the Chandni Chowk area, they said.

Irshad had earlier gone to the Udayan Hostel to repair a television, and after some mobile phones went missing over the last few days, he was again called to the hostel this morning, a police officer said.

He was accused of stealing a mobile phone, allegedly tied up and beaten, his family said. "He had called us from the hostel and said that the students after accusing him of theft, were demanding money," a relative said.

After being informed about the incident, police reached the hostel and rescued him in a critical condition. He was admitted to the Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, where he died in the afternoon while undergoing treatment, a doctor who treated him said.

Police said they have arrested 14 people, and filed a case under IPC sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 365 (kidnapping), and 302 (murder) at the Muchipara police station.

(Inputs from PTI)