Three of family beaten for defying ‘kangaroo court’

Three members of a family, including a woman, were beaten up mercilessly by some neighbours for not following the orders of a ‘kangaroo court’ at Kaliachak in Malda on Monday afternoon.

Police initiated a probe, based on the victim’s complaing but are yet to arrest anyone. They were admitted to Malda Medical College and Hospital.

Preliminary investigation revealed that one of the victims, Ranjit Mondal, had got engaged in an altercation with his neighbour Sumit following a land dispute.

The trouble began when Sumit wanted to construct a boundary wall on his plot. Ranjit had objected, alleging that his neighbour was trying to build the wall on the former’s plot and it had led to a clash on Thursday.

Some people from the locality decided to settle the issue in a kangaroo court. They court ordered Ranjit to allow Sumit to construct the boundary wall on the former’s plot. Ranjit was not ready to accept the decision said he would move the district court. The court members in retaliation beat up Ranjit, his wife and his brother.