Malda: A 24-year-old man’s death barely two days ago, after being beaten up by some locals in Baishnabnagar, triggered a blockade of NH-34 on Sunday when his body reached Malda.

Several hundred villagers demanded arrest of the culprits involved in the death of Sanaul Sk, who was accused of being a bike-lifter. One person has been arrested, said Baishnabnagar police.

Sanaul’s mother Sufia Bewa said two “unknown” youths came on a bike to their home in Gaddipara and took him along on Wednesday. That night, he was severely assaulted, allegedly by some locals. According to the family, Sanaul was stripped and hit with iron rods. In a video of the attack that went viral, the attackers are heard asking Sanaul: “How many bikes have you stolen?” Sanaul is silent and is roughed up some more.

The video triggered police action. Sanaul was rescued and taken to Bedrabad primary health centre. Police then took him to Malda Medical College and Hospital where a CT scan found a blood clot in his brain. He was transferred to SSKM hospital in Kolkata for a surgery, which was scheduled for Saturday. But Sanaul died late on Friday. “I lost my husband a few years ago. Sanaul was my eldest son; he used to work in a brick kiln. He was the only earning member,” Sufia Bewa said.

Local BJP MLA Swadhin Sarkar said: “I’ve heard a youth was tortured for theft charges. No one has the right to take the law into their hands. I demand the culprits be caught and punished.”

Block Trinamool leader Khalilur Rahman said: “It’s a planned murder. We want the culprits punished.”

Sanjoy Biswas, inspector-in-charge, Baishnabnagar police station, said: “We have identified some people from the video. One of them was arrested.” The arrested person has been identified as Mithu Choudhury.

Malda SP Aloke Rajoria said: “We have started a case under IPC sections 302, 341, 325 and 34. Efforts are on to arrest the other accused.”

Several Bangla Sanskriti Mancha members visited Sanaul’s home on Sunday. The youth, they said, was father to a six-month-old child. “We want punishment for the culprits,” said Md Nazim, one of the team members.

