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Das’s wife Indramati (right) mourns his death. Picture by Pranab Debnath
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Krishnagar, Sept. 21: A 40-year-old man suffering from insomnia who was taking a walk last night in a Nadia village was beaten to death allegedly by residents who suspected him to be a thief.
Dilip Das, a scrap iron dealer in Nagpur, had come to Bhabanipur village, 8km from Krishnagar town, to attend his father-in-law’s death anniversary yesterday.
“Das had insomnia. Yesterday, he developed rashes all over his body and showed a doctor in Krishnagar. His family members told us that he could not sleep last night despite taking medicines. He had gone out for a walk and entered the neighbouring Ektaria village,” a police officer said.
The officer said a group of residents who were guarding the village, which is in a theft-prone area, suspected Das was thief. “Some residents told us that those on guard could not recognise Das as he was not from the area. They mistook him for a thief and beat him to death. We are trying to identify those who attacked him,” the officer said.
Another officer said the injuries suggested Das was hit several times with blunt weapons.
This morning, Das’s body with multiple injuries was found in a bush in Ektaria, 1km from Bhabanipur.
Das’s wife Indramati said: “My husband was not feeling well because of the allergic rashes. He could not sleep despite taking sleeping pills. So he had gone out for a walk.”
Local CPM leader Prabir Mitra said the residents may have mistaken Das for a thief because he was a stranger.
District police chief S.R. Mishra said: “We have started an investigation and hope to arrest the culprits soon.”
Most of the men in Ektaria have fled fearing arrest.
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