A 29-year-old youth was lynched on Sunday by a mob for allegedly stealing cows at Sonamura in Tripura’s Sepahijala district, around 55km from here.

Speaking to The Telegraph on Monday, Sonamura sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Souvik Dey said two complaints — one on lynching and another on cattle lifting — were registered with a local police station.

“Matin Miah, 29, was caught by villagers in the Gorurband area of Sonamura in the wee hours of Sundaywith two cows. After that, the mob beat him black and blue. He was later admitted to Melaghar sub-divisional hospital where he died yesterday,” Dey said.

The SDPO also said the father of Matin, Shafique Miah, 60, lodged an FIR at Sonamura police station against two persons for “murdering” his son.

The second FIR was lodged by Tapan Bhowmik related to stealing cattle from his house.

“The victim had a history of stealing cattle. We are investigating the case,” Dey said.