Main Accused In Patna Student Lynching Arrested, Victim Harsh Raj Campaigned For Chirag Paswan's Samastipur Candidate

A 22-year-old student named Harsh Raj was beaten to death by a group of over 10 masked men on the Patna Law College premises on Monday (27 May).

He was a final-year student of Vocational English Course at BN College and the attack happened when he came out of the examination hall, The Hindu reported.

The main accused Chandan Yadav has been arrested, City SP (East) Bharat Soni told media while informing that work to arrest other accused is underway.

Soon after the attack, Raj was taken to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), where he was declared dead. His father Ajit Kumar, a journalist in a Hindi daily filed the complaint.

Kumar suspects the attack was because his son was planning to contest the Patna University Student Union (PUSU) elections and expressed that he had asked Raj to refrain.

However, according to NDTV, the attack is linked to an altercation over a dandiya night last year, after which tensions between the two groups persisted.

"Some anti-social elements beat up a student, Harsh Raj, so badly that he died later. This is a clear case under Section 302 (murder)," police said.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the matter. The CCTV footage of the crime is also being scanned and other evidence is being collected.

Patna University canceled all exams scheduled on 28 May after the incident and all colleges remained closed. Meanwhile, the political parties are exchanging barbs over the incident.

Notably, victim Harsh Raj was active in campaigning for Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janashakti Party (Ram Vilas) candidate Shambhavi Kunal Choudhary in Samastipur.

Calling Raj a "brother", Choudhary demanded the arrest of the culprits soon. Chirag Paswan also condemned the lynching of the student and demanded strict action.