IMPHAL, Nov 2: A man charged of trying to steal a calf succumbed after being assaulted by a mob during the wee hours today at Ucheckon under Irilbung Police Station.
On the other hand, neighbours of the man have countered the charges stating that the man is a school headmaster and couldn`™t have stolen the calf.
The deceased has been identified as Md Hajmat alias Babu, 55, son of (L) Md Kasim Ali of Keirao Makting Awang Leikai.
He was assaulted by a mob who found him around 3 am trying to drag away a calf he had allegedly stolen from the cowshed of one Khumanthem Brojen, 45, Kongba Nandeibam Leikai.
On the other hand, Keirao Makting Awang Leikai residents countered the allegations and said Hajmat is the headmaster of the UJB School where his own wife is also a teacher.
Claiming that he was implicated wrongly by certain individuals and beaten to death, the residents have formed a JAC in this connection.
The JAC has demanded punishment for all those involved in the incident, Rs 5 lakh as ex-gratia and a suitable government job for a family member.
Unless the demands are met with, the body of the deceased will not be accepted, the JAC declared further.
At the same time, angry locals also set on fire the house of one of the deceased`™s neighbour identified as Md Amu who was allegedly involved in the incident.