Man assaulted by mob in Lambha after being mistaken for thief, two named in complaint

A 22-year-old labourer was allegedly tied up and beaten by residents of a housing society in Lambha early on Thursday morning after being mistaken for a thief. The victim, who sustained injuries to his head and chest, later filed a complaint naming two men as his attackers.

According to the FIR registered at Narol police station, the complainant, Ajay Gopalbhai Patni (22), a resident of Lambha, stated that the incident took place around 4 am on October 23 when he went out for a walk as he could not sleep.

“When I reached the Ridhi Siddhi Nagar Society nearby, some residents woke up and started shouting, ‘The thief has come!’ Before I could say anything, they surrounded me, tied my hands and feet with ropes, and started hitting me with a plastic pipe on my head and chest,"  the complainant told the police.

“They hurled filthy abuses and threatened to break my legs,” he added.

Ajay said one of the residents called the police control room, following which a patrol car arrived and took him to the Narol police station.

A case was then filed against him based on the residents’ suspicion. “I was frightened and did not tell the police the truth initially,” Ajay stated in his complaint.

He later informed his brother Kishan, who met him at the police station. Kishan inquired into the incident and identified the two men who allegedly assaulted Ajay as Rahul Rajput and Mahesh Babubhai Rajak, both from the same locality.

Ajay has now lodged a complaint seeking action against both men for assault and abuse.

The case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita about voluntarily causing hurt, wrongful restraint, and criminal intimidation.

Police Sub-Inspector Geetaben Govindbhai, who is investigating the case, said, “We have recorded the complainant’s statement and identified the accused. Further investigation is underway, and statements of eyewitnesses will be taken.”

Police sources said the victim was treated for minor injuries and later discharged. Officers added that they are verifying whether the mob acted on a false alarm of theft or a misunderstanding.