MUMBAI: A 26-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by four labourers on suspicion of theft at a construction site in Goregaon (West) early on October 19, police said. The Goregaon police have arrested the accused, identified as Gautam Chamar, Rajiv Gupta, Salman Khan, and Ismulla Khan, all construction workers at the Raj Patharon building site in Subhash Nagar, Teen Dongri.
The victim, Harshal Parma, reportedly left home around midnight on October 18 to drink alcohol but never returned, his mother Suvarna Ramsingh Parma told police. She was later informed by officers from Goregaon police station that her son had been found unconscious at a nearby construction site and taken to a trauma care hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.
According to the police complaint and eyewitness accounts, the assault occurred around 3 am when labourer Vasant Kumar Prasad raised an alarm, claiming that four thieves had entered the construction site. While three reportedly escaped, Harshal was caught and tied up by the workers.
The building’s watchman, Pappu Dudhnath Yadav, told police that when he arrived, he saw Salman Khan beating Harshal with a bamboo stick, while Ismulla Khan kicked and punched him. When Yadav attempted to intervene, the accused threatened him and ordered him to “mind his own business.” Fearing for his safety, Yadav left the area.
Around 7 am, Yadav discovered Harshal lying unconscious in the parking area and immediately informed site supervisor Pradeep Mishra, who alerted police. Harshal was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries before admission.
In her complaint, Harshal’s mother alleged that between 3 am and 7 am, her son was tied up and brutally assaulted with bamboo sticks, kicks, and punches by the four accused, who had mistaken him for a thief.
The Goregaon police have registered a case of murder (Section 302 IPC) and common intention (Section 34 IPC). The four accused were arrested and are currently in police custody as investigations continue.
