A youth died after being severely thrashed on the allegations of theft at Inchuci gram panchayat under the Khantapada police station in Baleswar district on Thursday.
The deceased was identified as Kuna Dalei of the village.
Reports said that Kuna was lynched by supporters of a sitting Sarpanch following the decision of a kangaroo court.
.Reports said Kuna had allegedly stolen some iron rods kept near a pond. The pond owner dragged the youth to Sarpanch Ramani Ranjan Mahalik and sought punishment for the theft.
The supporters of the Sarpanch allegedly thrashed Kuna black and blue. Later, the victim’s family members rushed him to the District Headquarters Hospital in a critical condition. But he succumbed to the injuries on Friday morning.
As news of the youth’s death reached the village, tension prevailed among his relatives and supporters. However, police reached the spot and brought the situation under control.