Teen beaten to death for 'picking mangoes'; mob torches orchard, house in West Bengal

KOLKATA: An orchard owner, Sheikh Farhad Mondal alias Furad, was arrested from Naihati on Thursday for allegedly beating a teen boy to death over suspicion of plucking mangoes. Cops said the victim, Sudipto Pandit (18) of Kanchrapara, was returning home with his friends after visiting a relative's house when he noticed mangoes strewn across the road and in an orchard. While picking some up, they were spotted by Furad. As the boys tried to flee, Furad reportedly caught hold of Pandit and began punching and kicking him. Furad continued to assault him even after Pandit had collapsed.Pandit was declared dead at the Naihati State General Hospital. A mob set fire to Farhad's house, mango godown, and the orchard in Shibdaspur on Friday. RAF and cops were deployed to control the situation.