Noida: A 27-year-old man from Hardoi who had come to Noida looking for work was allegedly beaten to death after neighbours suspected him of stealing a mobile phone, police said. Five people have been arrested and a juvenile detained in connection with the case.

Trouble began after a phone theft suspicion

Pramod Kumar had arrived in Harola earlier on Monday and was staying with an acquaintance, Neeraj Lodhi, in a rented room. His cousin Sushil and another villager, Vijay, also lived nearby.

According to police, a resident of the same building accused Pramod of stealing his wife’s mobile phone on Monday afternoon. An argument followed, after which Pramod left the area.

He returned at around 10 pm, when residents who were already suspicious of him allegedly confronted and surrounded him. Police said he was assaulted and left critically injured on the road.

Family rushed him to hospital

Neeraj, Sushil and Vijay reached the spot after being alerted and took Pramod to District Hospital in Sector 39. Doctors examined him and declared him dead.

His family was informed, following which his maternal uncle, who lives in Ghaziabad, approached the police. A case was initially registered under a provision relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Police are now investigating whether the mobile phone was actually stolen and what led to the assault.

Five arrested as police investigate

Following a Dial 112 alert, police questioned around 15 suspects between 2 am and 6 am. By 8 am, Santosh Kumar Mandal, Karan Kumar Mandal, Suresh Mandal, Raunak Kumar Mandal and Nikhil alias Bravo had been arrested. A juvenile was also detained.

Police said the accused claimed they did not know Pramod and had found him inside or near their rented premises on August 31. They allegedly questioned him over the suspected theft before assaulting him.

All five arrested men were tenants in Harola and are from different districts of Bihar.

Family says he came only to find work

Pramod’s family said he had travelled to Noida only in search of employment. He had studied up to Class 8 and was unmarried, leaving behind four sisters and two brothers.

Police are questioning witnesses and examining CCTV footage and other evidence as they investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.

After the post-mortem examination, Pramod’s body was handed over to his family, who took him to their native village in Hardoi for the last rites.