Some locals of Kotagarh village in the Rajsunakhela area of the district thrashed members of a family suspecting them to be thieves. Six members of the family were hospitalised after being beaten up by the mob.
The locals had consulted a sorcerer, who suggested performing a ritual, to nab the thief. On his suggestion, they roamed around the village with a cot in search of the thief. Later, they attacked a particular family accusing them of stealing articles from their houses.
Police launched probe based on a complaint lodged by the victims.