Man stripped, tied to electric pole and beaten over phone theft suspicion in UP

A 55-year-old man was allegedly stripped, tied to an electric pole and beaten by a group of people in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit on Tuesday evening after they suspected him of stealing a mobile phone, police said.

The incident took place in the Bashir Khan locality. A video purportedly showing the assault later surfaced on social media.

Police said they reached the spot after receiving information and rescued the man from the crowd. He was subsequently taken to the City police station.

The victim was identified as Ajban, a resident of the Kayasthan locality in Puranpur, police said.

According to police, some local residents suspected Ajban of stealing a mobile phone and caught him. Instead of handing him over to the police, they allegedly assaulted him, stripped him and tied him to an electric pole before beating him.

Inspector Pramendra Kumar said police were identifying those involved with the help of the video.

“Action will be taken against those involved after the investigation,” Kumar told reporters.

Police are investigating the incident and the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault.