Two Dalit boys suspected to be thieves lynched in Bihar

Two Dalit students, awaiting their Class 10 results, were lynched in a Bihar village on suspicion that they were thieves. Two of the 20 named as accused were arrested, police said Wednesday.

Chhotu Kumar and Golu Kumar were beaten to death in Baikanthpur village of Patna district Tuesday.

Chhotu was son of assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of police Vishwanath Paswan, who is posted in Muzaffarpur district, while Golu was son of Sagar Paswan, a villager.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Anoj Kumar said two of the alleged attackers, Anil Yadav and Muni Lal, have been arrested. "Police will not spare the remaining named accused," the police official said.

The two Dalit boys were loitering near the village when some people suspected them of planning to steal battery from a tractor. The villagers raised an alarm and caught the duo.

"Ignoring their pleas of being innocent students, the villagers beat them mercilessly. When they were half dead and unconscious, the villagers threw them near National Highway No.30 where they died of their injuries," a police official said.

Family members of Chhotu and Golu told police that both were waiting for the examination result that was to be declared June 5. "But both were beaten to death before they could see their results," a weeping Sagar Paswan said. - IANS