Nayagarh: A youth was thrashed to death by some villagers of Kuruma Bankatara under Odagaon police limits in Odisha's Nayagarh district today over suspicion of theft.

The deceased has been identified as Krushna Pradhan of Goudaput village.

According to reports, locals had last night spotted Pradhan along with three others roaming suspiciously in the village. While the three escaped from the spot, Pradhan was detained by the villagers who thrashed him mercilessly alleging his involvement in robbery at the village.

The Odagaon police this morning rescued Pradhan and admitted him to the Nayagarh district headquarters hospital. He was later referred to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar as his condition deteriorated. However, he succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital near Khordha.

Investigation into the matter is underway. The body was sent to Khordha hospital for post-mortem.