Uttar Pradesh: Man branded thief, thrashed and set on fire

LUCKNOW: Mistaken for a thief, a 28-year-old man was allegedly stripped, beaten up and set on fire by a mob in Dewa area of Barabanki late on Thursday night.
Sujeet Kumar, who was rescued by police and admitted to a private hospital, was later referred to the civil hospital in Lucknow. Doctors here have said he has sustained 30% burns.
A case has been registered against four persons. Three named accused have been arrested and a manhunt has been launched for a fourth who is unidentified.
According to police, Sujeet — a Dalit and resident of Tindoli Tauki Mati — was going to his in-laws’ house when he was chased by a pack of stray dogs in Raghupurwa village. The scared youth sought refuge in a shed outside a house in the same village.
Villagers, identified as Shrawan Kumar, Umesh and Ram Lakhan and two others, saw him holed up near the house and began grilling him. Sujeet said he was going to bring his wife back home, but the group didn’t listen. They allegedly labelled him a thief and began beating him up. He was stripped, bathed in petrol and set on fire.
Some people alerted UP 100 and a patrol vehicle came to Sujeet’s rescue. He was first taken to a private hospital and later shifted to Lucknow. SP Barabanki Akash Tomar said a case had been registered under the SC/ST Act and sections of the IPC, including attempt to murder and voluntarily causing hurt. “Three persons have been arrested,” Tomar confirmed.
Chief medical superintendent (civil hospital) Dr Ashutosh Dubey said Sujeet had sustained burns from his thighs to feet. “He is under observation with 30% burns,” Dubey added.