Youth beaten dead over mobile theft

A man was beaten to death allegedly by a group of local youths at Shitalpur village in Sitakunda upazila early yesterday on allegation of stealing a mobile phone set.

The deceased, Abdul Malek, 26, son of Siddik Patwari of Chandpur district, used to live at a rented house at Bagula Bazar in the upazila.

The law enforcers yesterday arrested five people in connection with the killing.

Quoting locals and victim's family members police said a group of 10/12 youths led by one Azam picked up Malek from Bagula Bazar and took him to Shitalpur village on Tuesday night for stealing a mobile phone.

Azam and his men tortured Malek and beat him mercilessly, leaving him dead, Sub-inspector Kamal of Sitakunda Police Station said.

Locals spotted Malek's body lying beside a road and informed the police, who recovered the body and sent it to the hospital for autopsy.