Eleven people have been arrested and two police personnel suspended in connection with the death of a 24-year-old man, who was thrashed by a mob for alleged theft in Jharkhand.

As per a purported video that has gone viral, Tabrez Ansari was assaulted and forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Jai Hanuman’.

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Ansari died in a hospital on Saturday, days after he was brutally thrashed by a mob at Dhatkidih village in Seraikela district on suspicion of stealing a bike. According to the police, a stolen motorcycle and some other things were also recovered from him.

A special investigation team (SIT) has been set up to look into the death of Tabrez Ansari, who was declared “brought dead” by doctors at the Tata Main Hospital in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, on Saturday, the police said.

The SIT has been asked to submit its report to the Home Secretary and the Chief Secretary by Wednesday.

According to police sources, initially, Ansari tried to save himself by calling himself “Sonu”. However, he was forced to reveal his real name after the mob asked him to chant “Jai Sri Ram”.

After the thrashing, the mob handed him over to the police, which took him to a police post. However, he had to be admitted to a hospital after his condition worsened and he died at the hospital on Sunday.

According to the police, Ansari and two others had entered a house in Seraikela village in the night, allegedly with an intention to commit theft.

However, the occupants of the house woke up and raised an alarm, following which villagers caught hold of Ansari and “manhandled” him, while his accomplices managed to flee.

The police reached the spot the next morning and took Ansari to jail on the basis of a complaint from villagers, after administering first aid to him.

However, when his condition deteriorated in jail on the same day, he was taken to a hospital, where he was diagnosed with multiple injuries.

Ansari’s wife has questioned the role of the police in her husband’s death alleging that he was not given timely medical treatment.

Earlier, there were reports that Ansari was tied to a pole and beaten up with sticks through the night.

The opposition party in the state – the Congress – has demanded Rs. 25 lakh compensation and a government job for his wife.

The incident has triggered angry reactions from various political parties across the country.

Earlier on Monday, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the lynching incident saying that “Muslims and Dalits were getting killed every week in Modi’s New India”.

In a taunting tone, he further requested Modi to keep the “New India” to himself and give the people “Old India where there was love and mutual respect”.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Asaduddin Owaisi blamed the ruling BJP and RSS of spreading and increasing hatred and dislike against the Muslim community. He also charged the two of successfully creating a negative image of Muslims in the country.

Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti tweeted: “A Hindu mob thrashed him ruthlessly because he refused to chant ‘Jai Sri Ram’. Is this NDA 2.0’s New India? Yeh kaunsa tareeka hai sabka vishwas jeetnay ka (what kind of a process is this to win everyone’s trust)?”