A 20-year-old Muslim man from the Gumla district of Jharkhand was beaten to death for being in love with a Hindu woman, the Hindustan Times reported today.
Mohammad Shalik, a resident of Raza Colony, was reportedly in a relationship with a Hindu woman from the nearby village of Soso. The local police told HT that Shalik was tied to tree and thrashed for hours by a group of the woman's neighbors.
The violent crime which ended with Shalik's death occurred after he attended a Ram Navami procession with the woman on Wednesday and then dropped her home on his scooty. Neighbors, who spotted Shalik leaving the house of the Hindu woman, allegedly surrounded him, tied him to a tree and assaulted him.
Shalik died of his injuries on Thursday.
Shalik had initially refused to meet the woman because he suspected trouble, but then he changed his mind and went to meet her. Gumla superintendent of police Chandan Kumar Jha told HT, "Though investigation is on, we were told by the villagers that the boy had been asked earlier not to meet the girl and never visit the village." Three people have been arrested, so far.
Tensions are reportedly high in Gumla town following Shalik's death and police have been deployed to maintain law and order.
Earlier this week, a Muslim dairy owner, Pehlu Khan died after he was beaten by cow vigilantes in Alwar, Rajasthan.
Indians March In Kansas After Shooting
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Open Image ModalPeople march before a vigil for Srinivas Kuchibhotla, an Indian engineer who was shot and killed, at a conference center in Olathe, Kansas, U.S., February 26, 2017. REUTERS/Dave Kaup (credit:Dave Kaup / Reuters)
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Open Image ModalPeople march before a vigil for Srinivas Kuchibhotla, an Indian engineer who was shot and killed, at a conference center in Olathe, Kansas, U.S., February 26, 2017. REUTERS/Dave Kaup (credit:Dave Kaup / Reuters)
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Open Image ModalSrinivasacharyulu, from the Hindu Temple of Kansas City, prays during a vigil for Srinivas Kuchibhotla, an Indian engineer who was shot and killed, at a conference center in Olathe, Kansas, U.S., February 26, 2017. REUTERS/Dave Kaup (credit:Dave Kaup / Reuters)
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Open Image ModalA boy holds up a candle during a vigil for Srinivas Kuchibhotla, an Indian engineer who was shot and killed, at a conference center in Olathe, Kansas, U.S., February 26, 2017. REUTERS/Dave Kaup (credit:Dave Kaup / Reuters)
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Open Image ModalOrganizer Venkat Manda and Kyla Ryan, 4, start a march before a vigil for Srinivas Kuchibhotla, an Indian engineer who was shot and killed, at a conference center in Olathe, Kansas, U.S., February 26, 2017. REUTERS/Dave Kaup (credit:Dave Kaup / Reuters)
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Open Image ModalAlok Madasani, who was wounded in a shooting that killed Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla, attends a vigil at a conference center in Olathe, Kansas, U.S., February 26, 2017. REUTERS/Dave Kaup (credit:Dave Kaup / Reuters)
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Open Image ModalAlok Madasani, who was wounded in a bar shooting that killed Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla, sings during a candlelight vigil at a conference center in Olathe, Kansas, U.S., February 26, 2017. On right is Madasani's wife Reepthi Gangula. REUTERS/Dave Kaup (credit:Dave Kaup / Reuters)
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Open Image ModalPeople from three religions share a candle during a vigil for Srinivas Kuchibhotla, an Indian engineer who was shot and killed, at a conference center in Olathe, Kansas, U.S., February 26, 2017. REUTERS/Dave Kaup (credit:Dave Kaup / Reuters)