Bihar: Mob assaults youth over alleged theft in Gaya

Police said a case has been registered against unidentified assailants and a team has been formed to identity and arrest the accused

A mob allegedly tied a youngster to a handpump, assaulted and stripped him, and shaved his head, moustache and eyebrows on Saturday accusing him of stealing a mobile phone in Gaya in Bihar.

The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon and a video went viral on social media platforms on Sunday. (Representative Image)

Police registered a case on Monday after a video of the incident came in notice of Gaya senior superintendent of police (SSP) Ashish Bharti on Sunday night.

HT cannot verify the authenticity of the video.

The young man was seen in the video requesting the crowd for mercy and to leave him but the assailants were seen beating him mercilessly. The incident took place in Murarpur locality of Kotwali police station limits of the town, police said.

The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon but the video went viral on social media platforms on Sunday. Some people were seen tying the youth to a defunct handpump, stripping him and beating with whatever is in their hands. They also tonsured his head and saved his moustache and eyebrows.

Although the victim did not complain to police, a case has been registered against unidentified assailants with Kotwali police station.

“The viral video came to our notice on Sunday midnight. A case against unknown assailants has been registered today (Monday morning). A team comprising town SP, DySP and Kotwali SHO has been formed to identity and arrest the accused,” said the SSP.