Two suspected cattle thieves, who were among a group of five, were nabbed and thrashed by villagers in Old Malda block early on Wednesday.

Some villagers also torched a pick-up van and a two-wheeler that the youths used to reach Minapara village.

Sources said that in the small hours on Wednesday, some Minapara residents saw five youths moving around in a pick-up van and a couple of two-wheelers.

Suspecting them to be cattle smugglers, residents gave them chase. Three managed to flee, but two were nabbed and beaten up.

One of the two-wheelers and the pick-up van were torched.

“Over the past few weeks, cattle theft has increased in the area and people were already angry. The alleged suspicious activities of the youths made them more angry,” said a resident.

As the news spread, a police team rushed to the spot and rescued the duo, who were then admitted to Malda Medical College and Hospital.

With the help of some youths, the police also doused the flames of the vehicles. The police haven’t yet disclosed the identity of the duo. “It is in the interest of the investigation. We are currently obtaining information about them,” said a source.

The police are also trying to find out if any CCTV footage could be available in the area.

Lakshmiram Hansda, the head of the Trinamul-run local panchayat, said the situation was currently under control in the village.

“The police should take strict steps to stop cattle theft and other crimes,” panchayat head Hansda said.

Blast injures boys

Three boys of a village in North Dinajpur suffered serious burn injuries on Wednesday when one of the crude bombs, which the trio found in an under-construction house and mistook for balls, exploded when they were playing with it.

Ishad Ali, 8, Samir Ali, 7, and Ahadur Mohammad, 8, of Lakkhajania village under Raiganj police station, have been admitted to Raiganj Government Medical College and Hospital.

A police team rushed to the village for investigation.

Two persons have been detained in this connection.