By The Sampadak Express
A man was allegedly lynched by a mob during a local cricket match in Mangaluru on Sunday, reportedly after he shouted the slogan “Pakistan Zindabad.” Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara confirmed the incident, stating the man succumbed to his injuries later, and a full investigation is currently underway.
The incident occurred around 3 PM during a cricket tournament that featured ten teams and over 100 participants. Eyewitness accounts suggest that a scuffle initially broke out between the victim and a man identified as Sachin. The altercation quickly escalated, with a group assaulting the victim using sticks and physical force.
Despite attempts by some bystanders to intervene, the victim was severely beaten. His body was discovered near a local temple around 5:30 PM, prompting police intervention.
Initially, Mangaluru Police suspected a natural death due to the absence of major external injuries. However, a post-mortem conducted at Wenlock District Hospital later revealed internal bleeding and shock from repeated blunt force trauma to the back. Injuries were also noted on the victim’s limbs, buttocks, and genitals, allegedly caused by wooden logs.
Following the emergence of new evidence, the case was transferred to the Mangaluru Rural Police Station. A First Information Report (FIR) was filed based on a complaint by local resident Deepak Kumar, 33. So far, 19 individuals have been named in the FIR, with 10 already arrested. Authorities are analyzing CCTV footage and mobile data to identify additional suspects.
Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal assured that the investigation is being pursued rigorously and all those involved will face strict legal action. “All those involved will face the harshest legal consequences,” he told India Today.
Home Minister Parameshwara also urged the public to avoid speculation until the full report is released and reiterated that the law would take its course.