Purnia: A horrific incident has come to light in Purnia district, where villagers held a young man hostage and brutally beat him on accusations of theft. After beating the youth to within an inch of his life, he was confined in a room, and the villagers even refused to hand him over to the police. This incident occurred in Khamela village, located within the jurisdiction of the Amaur police station. The injured youth has been identified as Jitendra Kumar Sah (23), son of Naseeb Lal Sah.
According to reports, villagers apprehended Jitendra Kumar Sah during the night, accusing him of theft. The enraged mob tied his hands and feet with ropes and gagged him with a cloth to prevent him from raising an alarm. Subsequently, he was brutally beaten using sticks, kicks, and punches. It is alleged that the attackers also struck the youth’s private parts with sticks, leaving him critically injured.
Refusal to Hand Over to Police
Upon receiving information about the incident, the Amaur police force arrived at the scene; however, the villagers refused to hand the youth over to their custody. The villagers asserted that they would handle the matter and pass judgment themselves. Consequently, the police were forced to return empty-handed.
Police Rescue Operation
On Saturday morning, Station House Officer (SHO) Awadhesh Kumar arrived at the village with a heavy police contingent and, acting decisively, successfully rescued Jitendra Kumar Sah from the clutches of the villagers. He was then rushed in critical condition to the Amaur Referral Hospital, from where he was further referred to the Purnia GMC&H (Government Medical College and Hospital). Currently, his condition remains critical, and he is battling for his life.
Serious Allegations Leveled by Family
The victim’s mother, Meera Devi, has lodged a First Information Report (FIR)—registered as Amaur Police Station Case No. 178/26—against 13 named individuals (including the prime accused, Raj Kumar Thakur) and 15 to 20 unidentified persons. She alleges that, driven by an old enmity, Jitendra was abducted at 8:00 PM while returning home from his shop and was then brutally beaten on false charges of theft. She further alleged that family members who arrived to rescue her son were also subjected to abuse and mistreatment. Counter-Case Also Registered
On the other hand, Raj Kumar Thakur—representing the accused party—has also filed a counter-case under Case No. 180/26. He alleges that on Friday night, three individuals—including Jitendra—gained entry into his home through a window, broke open a Godrej safe, and stole ₹4.63 lakh in cash along with jewelry worth lakhs. Jitendra was apprehended while attempting to flee.
Police Statement and Arrest
Station House Officer (SHO) Avdhesh Kumar stated that, considering the gravity of the matter, the prime accused—Raj Kumar Thakur—has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody. Raids are currently underway to apprehend the other named accused individuals. The police are conducting a thorough investigation into the claims made by both parties.
