Cattle Transporters in Chhattisgarh Die After Bridge Jump, No Assault: Police

Three men transporting cattle in Chhattisgarh's Raipur district last month died after jumping off a river bridge. They were chased for over 50 km by a group of people, according to a police chargesheet. The chargesheet, filed in a Raipur court on July 8, stated that the trio was pursued by five accused in cars for about 53 km before they leapt off the bridge.

The incident occurred in the early hours of June 7. Two cattle transporters, Guddu Khan (35) and Chand Miya Khan (23), died under suspicious circumstances after allegedly being chased by a mob in the Arang police station area. Their associate, Saddam Qureshi, was injured and later succumbed to his injuries on June 18 at a Raipur hospital.

Details of the Chase

The chargesheet revealed that the accused received information about a vehicle possibly transporting cattle. They pursued the truck in three cars, attempting to stop it by throwing iron spikes-embedded wooden strips and glass pieces on the road. The truck driver drove on the wrong side for about 14 km to evade them but eventually stopped on the Mahanadi river bridge due to tyre damage caused by the spikes.

Out of fear, the three men exited the truck and jumped off the bridge into the river to save their lives. The police document stated, "In the entire incident, the accused chased the truck at high speed for about 53 km and tried to stop it illegally, which shows they knew their actions could lead to death or serious injury."

Legal Proceedings

The Arang police initially registered an FIR under sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 307 (attempt to murder), and 34 (common intention) of the IPC against unidentified persons. After Qureshi's death, his post-mortem report did not indicate homicidal injuries, leading to the dropping of the murder attempt charge.

A special team led by Raipur Additional Superintendent of Police Rural Kirtan Rathore was formed to investigate. Five individuals were arrested from different locations and charged under section 304 of the IPC. The chargesheet noted that "the act of the accused falls under the criminal act mentioned in section 304 of the IPC."

Victims' Final Moments

The victims were from Uttar Pradesh and were found below the Mahanadi river bridge with their truck parked above it. The chargesheet detailed that one victim, Chand Khan, died instantly upon hitting the water. Guddu Khan died while being transported to a hospital. Qureshi succumbed after two weeks of treatment due to severe injuries from jumping off the bridge.

Shoheb Khan, a cousin of Chand Khan and Qureshi, lodged a complaint stating that a mob had chased and attacked them while they were transporting buffaloes from Mahasamund district to Arang. Shoheb claimed he received a call from Chand Khan during the attack but it got disconnected before details could be shared.

Witness Accounts

Shoheb also mentioned that Qureshi called his friend Mohsin during the attack. In a call lasting 47 minutes, Qureshi reportedly said his limbs were broken. These calls provided crucial evidence supporting Shoheb's claims about the mob attack.

The chargesheet concluded that fear induced by the accused led to the victims jumping off the bridge, resulting in their deaths. This case highlights significant issues surrounding cattle transportation and mob violence in India.