Mangaluru: A 38-year-old man residing in Thotadtady, a village near Belthangady, who was involved in cases of theft and other crimes, died after being assaulted by the residents of the village here on Monday.

Peter, the victim, was accused of stealing two bags of arecanut from the house of Jacob along with two other people from the village on Sunday.

On Monday, Peter was reportedly caught by the people, along with four bags of arecanut that had been allegedly stolen from another house.

The people tied him to a tree and called the Belthangady police.

However, before the police arrived, the village residents beat Peter up and he died before he could be taken to a hospital.

Superintendent of Police S.D. Sharanappa said that the village residents were angry against Peter for his involvement in theft and other offences.

“But, this does not approve of taking law into their own hands and assaulting Peter,” Sharanappa said.

A case of murder has been registered. Sharanappa said that Peter was involved in nine criminal cases. Peter had been arrested and lodged in the Mangaluru prison.

He was released on bail a few days ago, he added.