A fact-finding report has been published by the APCR, West Bengal Chapter, chronicling the chilling death of Akbar Monday, a 45-year-old itinerant hawker.
On the morning of 9 June 2026, Akbar Ali Mondal, a business hawker, was in Supordih village, Purulia district, which is about 95 kilometers from his home, for his business work when Mondal was killed allegedly by Biswanath Mahoto, the report highlights.
The accused, Biswanath Mohalo, took items from Akbar Mondal without paying. When asked about the payment, he returned with a stick and attacked Mondal repeatedly on his face, causing his death, the fact-finding team told FoEJ Media.
Furthermore, the team said that the lifeless body of Mondal was concealed in a cattle shed.
“After this, Biswanath Mahato allegedly took Akbar Ali Mondal’s body. He hid it in his cattle shed, which means he tried to hide what he did. Police subsequently arrived at the scene, recovered the body, and initiated investigation procedures. The victim’s family was informed of the incident through police channels,” the report said.
The video of the incident was also recorded, which was presented as evidence to the police.
The report reveals that the police had arrested Biswanath Mahto while he was reportedly attempting to flee from a local stand at the time of his apprehension.
Mondal was the sole breadwinner of his family and is now survived by a 22-year-old son and two daughters. The incident came to light to the family when a phone call from the hospital revealed Mondal’s critical condition. On reaching the hospital, it was learned that Mondal’s life had been cut short.
“The death of Akbar Ali Mondal in Supordih village on 9 June 2026 represents far more than a tragic loss; it is a stark indictment of the vulnerabilities faced by itinerant traders from minority communities who navigate a landscape where economic struggle meets social suspicion and institutional neglect,” the report reads.
“The incident illustrates the systemic vulnerability of itinerant traders, particularly those from minority communities, to violence and exploitation,” the reports say.
A First Information Report (FIR) was registered by the police following the incident on 9 June 2026. The FIR documents the allegations of assault leading to death and related charges under applicable BNS. Alleged charges against the accused (Biswanath Mahato) likely invoke provisions under the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to: Causing death by assault or criminal force Murder or culpable homicide Potential charges relating to the concealment of the crime, the report reveals.
Developments in the case
The accused Biswanath Mahato is in police custody, and police authorities are investigating the matter by gathering evidence, which includes checking the place where the assault occurred, finding the weapon used, and talking to eyewitnesses, assuring the victim’s family that a fair investigation will be conducted without communal bias.
