Pay back hurts sometime...

Shocking video footage has been broadcast of Indian police and a mob of civilians as they punched and kicked a man accused of stealing a gold chain. He was then tied to a motorcycle and dragged down a street.

Bihar cops drag chain snatcher behind bike

Patna, Aug. 28: An alleged chain snatcher in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district is battling for life in a hospital after he was beaten by a mob and then two policemen tied him to the back of a motorcycle and dragged him along the ground. Mohammad Aurangzeb alias Saleem of Nathnagar town in Bhagalpur was severely beaten with leather belts, rods and stones by people on Monday after he was caught on suspicion of snatching a woman’s chain.

According to local social activist Santosh Kumar, Aurangzeb, an autorickshaw puller in his early twenties, was beaten brutally by people. “He was caught after some people chased him. Soon a mob gathered and started beating him after tying his hands behind him. He was crying for help but nobody cared,” Mr Kumar said.

Two policemen reached the spot but instead of rescuing him, they tied one of his legs to the back of their motorcycle and dragged him along the rough and bumpy road for not less than 100 metres.

Aurangzeb was badly bruised in the process. According to Bhagalpur district officials, the man was admitted in a government hospital in a critical condition. “He is undergoing treatment but his condition remains critical,” an official said on Tuesday.

Bihar police chief A.R. Sinha on Tuesday suspended the two policemen, Ramchandra Rai and L.B. Singh after television news channels showed footage of the entire episode.