A man was allegedly lynched here by a mob that accused him of theft, triggering communal tension, police said on Wednesday.

Seven identified people were booked in the case, and six have been arrested, they said.

According to a complaint filed by the victim's family, Fareed (35) was returning home from work when he was mobbed and thrashed by some residents on Tuesday night in the Mamu Bhanja locality over suspicion of theft, Superintendent of Police City M Shekhar Pathak said.

By the time police reached the spot, Fareed was seriously injured and rushed him to the Malkhan Singh Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, the SP said.

As the news of the incident spread, many people gathered at the hospital and demanded the arrest of the accused, he said.

Seven identified people have been booked in the case, and six have been arrested, Pathak said.

He said the arrests have been made based on CCTV footage, and some other unidentified people have also been booked. Further investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, people from both Hindu and Muslim communities gathered at some spots in the old city near Railway Road and some shops shut down their shutters, he said.

Police patrolling has been intensified in some areas identified as "sensitive spots", he added.

Several prominent BJP leaders led by the city MLA Muktar Varshney were staged a "dharna" near the Railway Road, demanding that no innocent person should be arrested based on fabricated evidence.

SP Pathak assured that arrests will be made following the due process of law.

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