Howrah, 26 July (H.S.): A youth was allegedly stabbed to death and his two brothers seriously injured in West Bengal's Howrah district after they protested against a man who was allegedly pelting stones at residential houses during the night. Police have arrested the accused, Guddu Sheikh, and recovered a blood-stained knife believed to have been used in the attack.

According to police and local sources, Guddu Sheikh, a resident of the Rasikol area of Bankra, allegedly had a habit of throwing stones at houses late at night. On Saturday night, after he again pelted stones at several houses, local residents caught him and warned him against repeating the act. The confrontation escalated into an argument, during which the accused allegedly threatened to stab the residents.

The police said that on Sunday morning, Guddu allegedly came out onto the road armed with a knife and launched a sudden attack. Hasan Mir sustained a fatal stab injury to his abdomen and collapsed on the spot. When his two brothers rushed to save him, the accused allegedly attacked them as well, injuring their hands and faces.

Local residents rushed the three to Howrah District Hospital, where doctors declared Hasan Mir dead. His two injured brothers are undergoing treatment.

Following the incident, enraged locals overpowered the accused and assaulted him before police from the Bankra outpost reached the spot, brought the situation under control and took him into custody.

Additional police personnel and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order.

The police have registered a murder case and launched an investigation. Investigators are also examining whether the accused was suffering from any mental health condition.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey