Police have detained at least nine residents of Sirka village to question them regarding the mob lynching of Mubarak Khan in Angara block of Ranchi on Sunday, SP (Rural) Naushad Alam said on Monday, adding that all those apprehended so far were named in an FIR lodged by the deceased’s elder brother.

“We have detained nine of the 17 men named in the FIR lodged by Mubarak Khan’s brother. They are being interrogated,” said Alam. He said police were also investigating the case from the perspective of one Durga Munda, who had lodged an FIR against Mubarak and two others for stealing tyre and battery of his bike.

In the FIR lodged by Tabarak Khan, the elder brother of Mubarak, he has named Saheb Ram Mahto, Durga Mahto, Raju Munda, Durga Munda, Lakshman Munda, Balram Mahto, Karulal Mahto, Sakhichand Mahto, Kamlal Mahto, Pokhar Mahto, Jaleshwar Mahto, Dilip Mahto, Chunnu Thakur, Jitendra Thakur, Sanjay Mahto, Dashrath Mahto, Rajendra Mahto, Jhabbu Lal Mahto, Pranav Mahto, Raghunath Munda and 20 unknown people for killing his brother as a part of a conspiracy.

In what is the second incident of mob lynching in March, 27-year-old Mubarak, a driver by profession, was allegedly beaten to death by some residents of Sirka village in suburban Ranchi on charges of stealing tyres and a battery of a bike owned by Durga Munda. The irate mob reportedly caught hold of him while he was fleeing and thrashed him.

However, the deceased man’s family has accused some residents of the village of tying Mubarak to a pole and thrashing him with the intent of killing him in the wee hours of Sunday. In the FIR, the family has alleged that Mubarak was murdered as a part of a conspiracy and that he had sustained severe injuries on his neck, back and head.

Tabarak told police that his brother left home around 11 pm on Saturday. Around 4 am, he came to know that Mubarak had been spotted at Sirka village. He claimed that while the deceased was badly beaten, he was later strangulated to death.

“We have taken statements of Mubarak's family, and investigation is on,” said the SP, but refused to divulge further details.