Argus News - Minor Boy Killed, Another Injured Over Goat theft Suspicion in Mayurbhanj; 12 Arrested

Baripada, Mar 3:  In a shocking case of mob violence in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, a 14-year-old boy was allegedly beaten to death and another critically injured after villagers accused them of stealing goats. The incident took place at Indokholi Herogoda village under Tiring police station on Monday afternoon, police sources said on Tuesday.

According to the sources, the deceased has been identified as Sambit Bindhani, a ninth-class student from Bhutukabadi village under Rairangpur police limits. Sambit had been staying at his maternal uncle’s house in Basingi village to continue his studies. The injured boy, Rakesh Mahant, a tenth-grade student from Kulgi village, was rushed to Baripada District Headquarters Hospital in serious condition and later referred for advanced treatment.

Police said Sambit and three friends were caught by villagers on suspicion of goat theft. While two managed to escape, Sambit and Rakesh were subjected to brutal assault. Eyewitnesses reported that the violence followed a kangaroo court-style trial, with villagers taking the law into their own hands.

The incident triggered outrage after a video of the assault circulated on social media. Police registered a murder case and arrested 12 people in connection with the attack. Rairangpur Sub-Divisional Police Officer Birendra Senapati confirmed that the accused were medically examined and will be produced before court.

Scenes of grief and tension unfolded at the hospital, where relatives of the victims demanded strict punishment. Sambit’s mother and aunt appealed for exemplary action against those responsible, insisting that villagers who resort to vigilante justice must face the full force of the law.

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Despite repeated awareness campaigns by the district police warning against mob justice, such incidents continue to occur. The Mayurbhanj Superintendent of Police had earlier urged residents to refrain from taking the law into their own hands. Yet, the persistence of such violence highlights the urgent need for stronger community engagement and stricter enforcement to prevent further tragedies.

This incident has once again exposed the dangers of vigilante justice in rural Odisha, where suspicion and rumor often escalate into deadly violence, claiming innocent lives.