Three suspected cattle thieves beaten to death in Bihar's Saran

PATNA: Three persons suspected to be cattle thieves were allegedly beaten to death, while another received serious injuries after being brutally assaulted by an irate mob in Saran district late on Thursday night, police said on Friday.
The incident took place around midnight at Nandalal tola under Baniyapur police station in Saran district, around 60km north of Patna. Three persons with a pickup van were spotted on the outskirts of the village moving in suspicious manner.The residents alleged that the victims were apprehended while trying to escape with three buffaloes and three goats belonging to one Rajbali Ram. They were thrashed with bamboo sticks and iron rods causing grievous injuries.
The four victims were rushed to the Baniyapur primary health centre where three of them were declared brought dead. The fourth victim is under going treatment at the hospital.
On getting information, senior police officials, including Saran SP Hari Kishore Rai, rushed to the spot and inquired about the incident. The bodies were sent to the Chhapra Sadar hospital for autopsy.
The deceased were identified as Ranu Nat, Videsh Nat, and Naushad Quareshi. Police sources said that the pickup van which was reportedly used in the crime, was registered in the name of one Santosh Kumar, a resident of neighbouring Gopalganj district.
The situation took an ugly turn when the relatives of the deceased reached Chhapra Sadar hospital and created ruckus. They demanded an impartial inquiry into the incident alleging that the residents of Nandalal tola killed the three and left another seriously injured.
The situation at the village where the incident took place last night is stated to be tense. Additional police armed forces have been deployed at the village to prevent any untoward incident. Saran SP, Hari Kishore Rai along with other police officials is camping at the site.