An auto-driver was lynched by a mob in Dwarka's Uttam Nagar on Saturday evening after two battery thieves who were riding on his vehicle diverted the ire of the mob blaming the driver for the crimes.
The victim auto-driver, identified as Avinash Kumar, had picked two passengers, identified as Mani Ram and Prakash, from Uttam Nagar.
Mani and Prakash asked the unsuspecting auto driver to stop at Mohan Garden for wait for sometime, police said.
Meanwhile, the auto driver Avinash went to attend the nature's call. When he came back, a crowd had already gathered near his auto and they were beating Mani and Prakash for stealing car batteries.
As soon as the auto driver returned to his vehicle, Mani and Prakash blamed Avinash for the thefts claiming that he is the kingpin. In the melee, the thieves placed a stolen battery in Avinash’s auto and convinced the crowd that the auto driver was the mastermind. The furious crowd immediately jumped on him and beat him to death.
The two thieves too faced the fury of the mob and sustained grievous injuries.
Police said all the three were rushed to hospital where Avinash was declared brought dead, while the other two are battling for their lives.
A case of murder has been registered and one person has been arrested for questioning, said police.
The deceased was a resident of Shahjahanpur and was living in Vikas Nagar in Delhi.