Man held in Vellore for migrant worker’s death

The Vellore North police on Saturday arrested a 51-year-old landlord for allegedly beating to death a migrant laborer who was mistaken for a thief a few days ago.

Police said the arrested person was identified as R. Suresh (51), the owner of the house. The victim Joyhind Munda (39) was a migrant worker from Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal.

Initial investigation revealed that on June 17, Munda along with 13 fellow migrants from West Bengal was on his way to Chennai to work at a construction site.

Police said Munda and other workers reached Katpadi railway station, after which Munda left the station to meet his friend in the city. He wandered around the residential areas near the new bus stand on Old Katpadi Road. Police said several residents, including suspect Suresh, had an argument with Munda over the purpose of the visit. They allegedly assumed he was involved in an attempted theft in the area.

Police said the residents and Munda exchanged blows and Munda was critically injured. On being informed, the Vellore North Police admitted him to the Government Pentland Multispeciality Hospital where he died around 3:00 am the next day.

A case has been registered. When the police analyzed the CCTV footage, they found that Suresh was beating Munda with wooden logs. Later, Suresh was arrested and lodged in Vellore Central Jail. A probe is underway.

Published – 21 Jun 2026 0:41 AM IST