An ex-serviceman was lynched allegedly by his neighbours after he protested against their goats eating up his jute saplings at Swaruppur village in Murshidabad’s Hariharpara on Monday afternoon.

Sources said Abul Kalam Sheikh, 49, had retired as a soldier few years ago and had been working as a security guard at a private firm in Jangipur town in Murshidabad.

Sheikh returned his home at Swaruppur village on Saturday after the state government announced implementation of stricter restrictions to restrain the pandemic, the sources added.

“My husband used to cultivate jute on our land. On Monday, he found three goats eating up the jute saplings and informed the owners of the cattle about the incident. It was not the first time that the goats ate jute saplings in our field. There was an argument between my husband and the cattle owners when he protested the happening and they lynched him with iron rods and bricks,” said Ayesha Parvin, wife of Sheikh.

Sheikh and Ayesha have two sons.

Later in the evening, police detained seven persons and started a murder case following a complaint lodged by Ayesha.

“We have started a murder case and detained seven persons for interrogation. The probe is on to find out whether there were more people involved in the killing,” said Subimal Paul, the additional superintendent of police (headquarters) in Murshidabad.