Two cattle traders died after being beaten up and their vehicle torched on the suspicion of cattle theft by a group of people on the outskirts of Cooch Behar town early on Thursday.

The duo were rescued by police but they succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Twelve persons have been arrested.

Sources said Prakash Das, 30, a resident of Mathabhanga, and Rabiul Islam, 28, who was from Dinhata, had been transporting two cows for sale on a pick-up van when they were stopped near the Putimari-Fuleswari panchayat office by a group of locals.

“They questioned the duo. Not satisfied with the replies, they dragged the two out of the vehicle and started beating them. Some others brought down the cattle and set the vehicle on fire,” a police officer said.

A police team rushed to the sport and rescued Prakash and Rabiul and took them to Cooch Behar Government Medical College and Hospital. “They had suffered serious injuries and died sometime after admission,” the police officer said.

Alema Yasmin, the pradhan of the panchayat, said she had been informed around 2am that two cattle rustlers had been held. “When I went to the spot, I came to know that they had been badly beaten and their vehicle set on fire. We condemn such attacks.”