Phiringia: In a shocking incident, a youth allegedly died by suicide by hanging himself after he was accused of goat theft and beaten up by villagers in Phiringia block of Odisha's Kandhamal district here on Tuesday.

The deceased was identified as Jitu Rana (17), son of one Mahipal Rana of Katapanga village under Sadingia panchayat of the block. While the exact cause of his death is yet to be ascertained, family members have alleged that he resorted to this extreme act as he was unable to bear the shame of being accused of theft and assaulted in public.

As per reports, Jitu had gone to his sister's house in Pahireju village on Monday. He was returning on his bike when a goat collided with his two-wheeler at Badhadani village. As the goat was injured, Jitu along with a friend took the animal for treatment to a hospital at Sadingia. However, locals intercepted him and beat him up ruthlessly, accusing him of stealing the goat. Later, villagers called a meeting in presence of the sarpanch and asked Jitu's father to show up along with him. Sources said as the locals then abused the father-son duo in front of everyone and even slapped a fine of Rs 4,000 on charges of theft.

The following day, when no one was around, Jitu went to a nearby jungle at around 12 pm in the afternoon and hung himself from a tree. Family members alleged that he was driven to this point as he was shamed in public along with his father. Unable to come to terms with the ignominy, he ended his life.

On getting the information, Phiringia police led by IIC Tapan Kumar Nahak reached the spot and recovered the body for autopsy at the district headquarters hospital. A case of un-natural death has been registered and investigation is underway, he said.