History-sheeter 'lynched' by villagers after theft bid in UP's Lakhimpur Kheri

A history-sheeter was allegedly lynched to death after villagers foiled an attempted theft by him and two others in Rajapur village here, police said on Saturday.

The incident took place on Friday night when a group of thieves allegedly tried to commit theft in the village under the Khamaria police station area but were confronted by alert villagers and members of a family who challenged them, they said.

Facing resistance, the thieves, armed with sharp-edged weapons, allegedly attacked the villagers, leaving three persons injured, police said.

Enraged over the attack on fellow villagers, the locals retaliated in self-defence and thrashed the thieves with sticks, resulting in the death of one of them, while two others managed to flee from the spot, they added.

Lakhimpur Kheri Senior Superintendent of Police Khyati Garg said the villagers attacked the thieves in self-defence.

The deceased, Munni Lal, was a known criminal with 35 cases registered against him, she said.

The injured villagers are undergoing treatment, while efforts are on to trace the absconding associates of Lal, the police added.

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