Odagaon: In a shocking incident, a 30-year-old man was beaten to death by a mob over theft suspicion at Kumbankatara village under Odagaon police limits in Nayagarh district Sunday.
The deceased was identified as Krushna Pradhan (30), a native of Khaida village under Kabisuryanagar police limits in Ganjam district, was staying with his family at Goudaput village under Odagaon police limits.
Based on a complaint by Pradhan’s father Bansi Pradhan, police registered a case and launched a probe.
According to sources, Pradhan along with two of his aides had strayed into the village to commit loot Saturday night. However, locals spotted them and overpowered Pradhan while the two others escaped.
Angry villagers thrashed Pradhan blue and black and left him to die on the village street. On being informed, police rescued Pradhan in a critical condition Sunday morning and admitted him to a local hospital. Later, he was shifted to Nayagarh district headquarters hospital and subsequently taken to a Bhubaneswar-based hospital. However, he was admitted to Khurda district headquarters hospital (DHH) after his condition worsened. He succumbed during treatment.
Pradhan’s family members said he was not a thief and the villagers had beaten him to death over suspicion.