Villagers lynched a suspected two-wheeler thief in Manipur, sparking fears of Hindu-Muslim tensions in the state.
Farooq Khan of Thoubal district was beaten to death by angry villagers at Tharoijam in Imphal district in the wee hours on Thursday.
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Two other accomplices managed to escape from the wrath of the irate people who also burnt down a car used by the three alleged thieves.
Local sources said the trio entered Tharoijam village in a car and attempted to steal a two-wheeler parked at an outhouse there around 3.30am, Times Of India reported.
Alarmed by dog barks, the locals came out and witnessed the trio attempting to drive the two-wheeler from the outhouse.
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On seeing the villagers, the three left the two-wheeler and drove out from the car and before-long they met a self-accident near a paddy field in the middle of the village. Of the three, two managed to flee from the village while one was immediately rounded up by the villagers, the sources added.
The individual, a Muslim youth from Lilong in Thoubal district, was badly beaten by the villagers who also torched the car used by the trio, the newspaper reported. He succumbed to his multiple injuries at the spot. Police have registered a case in connection with the incident.
Muslim organisations are demanding a thorough probe by the government, contending that the victim was innocent.
Police say they have taken steps to ensure the crime does not have a communal spillover