Student lynching: Prime accused denies charges in CID interrogation

Tapas Mullick who was arrested for his alleged involvement in the murder of Kaushik Purakayat has told the CID officials during the interrogation that Kausik had fallen victim of the public outrage and he was not involved in the crime. The 23-year-old Kaushik was beaten to death on mere suspicion of stealing a buffalo. 

Mullick during his prolonged interrogation on Friday night told the investigating officers that he was not at the spot when the trouble broke out. He was brought in to the scene later. Claiming himself as innocent, Mullick in the interrogation said that he was not involved in the lynching nor had he fueled the incident that led to the death of the victim.

The accused also told the police that he had no rivalry with the victim. He also told the police that when the victim was injured, Mullick had taken him to the hospital. Though, some local people had told the police that Mullick did not take him to the hospital.

The accused has not given any clear answer to the police about forcing the family members of the youth to give an undertaking that they would pay back Rs 60,000 the price of the buffalo that the victim had allegedly stolen. When the victim was critically injured after being thoroughly beaten up by a mob on mere suspicion of a buffalo thief, the mob prevented victim’s family members to take him to the hospital and demanded an underrating that the amount would be paid back. Though, the accused Mullick claimed in the interrogation that he did not know anything of that sort. Police are, however, verifying his statements.

A team of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Saturday visited Mandirbazar area in South 24-Parganas and talked to the parents of Kaushik Purakayat. CID has assured the victim’s father Kartick Purakayat to have faith on them. They have also recorded the statements of victim’s parents. They had also visited a relative’s house of Kaushik for interrogation.

The prime accused Mullick is one of the 10 FIR named accused in connection with the murder of Purakayat who was beaten to death on mere suspicion of stealing a buffalo. Police had arrested Mullick from Duttapukur in North 24-Parganas on late Thursday night.