Two individuals from West Bengal found themselves behind bars in Jharkhand on Tuesday after being accused of stealing a goat from a village on the outskirts of Dumka. The incident, which involved a dramatic confrontation with local villagers, highlights a recent spike in similar livestock thefts in the area.
Mob Justice and Police Rescue
The accused, identified as Firdaus and Lal Babu, residents of Dubrajpur in Birbhum district, had allegedly traveled to Lakhikundi village near Dumka on Monday evening. According to local sources and police, the duo arrived in a car with the intent to explore and steal castrated male goats. Their plan, however, was foiled by vigilant villagers.
Locals managed to catch the men red-handed after they had already stolen one goat. In a fit of anger, the villagers tied Firdaus and Lal Babu to an electric pole and thrashed them. A sedative item, commonly used to calm livestock, was reportedly recovered from their vehicle, adding to the evidence against them.
Police Intervention and Judicial Custody
A team from the Mufassil police station intervened to rescue the two accused from the mob attack. As crowds gathered outside the police station, the duo were subsequently moved to the Town police station for security reasons. They were taken into custody for interrogation on Monday itself.
On Tuesday, the law took its formal course. The two men were placed in judicial custody and sent to jail, confirmed a police officer involved in the case. The officer in-charge of Mufassil police station, Satyam Kumar, stated that efforts are actively underway to apprehend a third suspect who was part of the group but managed to flee the scene in the car during the confrontation.
Pattern of Livestock Theft
This incident is not isolated. Residents of the area have reported a noticeable increase in cases of goat theft recently. The method employed by the accused—using a car for mobility and carrying sedatives—suggests a degree of planning that has raised concerns among the local population and authorities. The police investigation continues to piece together the full scope of these thefts.
