JAIPUR (TIP): A 55-year-old man was today allegedly thrashed to death by civic body employees in Pratapargh district when he reportedly stopped them from taking photographs of women defecating in the open.

Zafar Khan, a social worker, was assaulted by five MC employees, his brother Noor Mohammad told the media. “The employees, shaming those defecating in the open, scared away some tribal women by taking their photographs. When my brother intervened, they attacked him. As soon as we learnt about the incident, we rushed to the hospital.We were told he was brought dead,” he said.

The police have lodged a case of murder against the five employees and the Commissioner of the Pratapgarh municipality who, according to an eyewitness, was on the spot when Zafar Khan was thrashed. Family members of the deceased and locals staged a protest outside the mortuary, demanding that the “killers” be arrested. They blocked the national highway for several hours. Members of the CPI-ML (Liberation), with whom Zafar was associated, said he had paid with his life for opposing “bullying”.