A mob allegedly lynched a 40-year-old tribal man on the suspicion of theft at Saraiya Hat, 50km from the Dumka district headquarters, on Thursday night.

Pramod Hajra, who lived in the tribal village of Sumeta in Dhouni panchayat in Dumka, died on the spot.

“Cops later took his body to the police station,” said sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Animesh Naithani.

The SDPO condemned the murder saying that a civilised society will not tolerate such heinous acts.

“Strict action will be taken against the offenders,” he said.

Police sources narrated the sequence of events.

Late on Thursday night, a group of people caught hold of Hajra, alleged to have stolen 400gm of silver jewellery and Rs 4,800 cash with the help of two accomplices, from the house of brothers Viram Mandal and Laxmi Mandal of Kendua village.

The mob of around 20 rounded up Hajra, started questioning him, stripped him and tied his hands with his trousers.

Saraiya Hat police station officer in-charge (OC) Sanjay Janak Murthy said: “The deceased has been identified as Pramod Hajra, 40, a resident of Ambatari village that falls under the jurisdiction of Bausi police station in Bihar’s Banka district. He was an interstate criminal.”

Of late, Hajra used to live in Sumeta village at his in-laws’ house.

Hajra’s widow, Kanchan Devi, has alleged that her husband was killed over an earlier dispute. Some men she had accused of sexual harassment could have been part of the mob that lynched her husband. She has filed an FIR.

OC Murthy said he received an information that some people in Kendua had entered a house with the intention of robbery and then villagers gave the trio a chase but could get hold of just Hajra. When the police reached the spot, they found one person dead.

The cops questioned the villagers and took the body to the police station and later sent it to Dumka for post-mortem. There were deep wounds on Hajra’s head and chest.

The Mandal brothers have filed an FIR about the theft.

Dumka superintendent of police Y.S. Ramesh said a team has been set up to investigate the case under the leadership of the SDPO and OC Murthy.

“We are strict about identifying the persons involved in the incident and action will be taken against them,” said the SP.