Youth beaten to death on suspicion of theft in Ganjam village

A youth was allegedly beaten to death by villagers on suspicion of theft at Sarddul village under Bhanjanagar in Odisha’s Ganjam district late on Friday night.

The deceased has been identified as Bandhar Pradhan of Kurumungia village in Kandhamal district.

According to police sources, the incident occurred around 2 am when two persons allegedly broke into a locked house in the village. Hearing suspicious noises, local youths raised an alarm, prompting villagers to gather at the spot.

Caught, Tied and Assaulted

During the chase, one of the suspects reportedly managed to flee, while Pradhan was apprehended by villagers. He was allegedly tied to an electric pole and assaulted on suspicion of theft.

A local resident said police arrived at the scene after receiving information and rescued the youth in a critical condition. He was shifted to Bhanjanagar Medical, where doctors later declared him dead.

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Police said nearly 30 persons have been detained for questioning in connection with the incident. Authorities have assured strict action against those found involved in the assault.

Investigation Underway

A case has been registered and further investigation is underway to ascertain the sequence of events and fix responsibility.