Dhaka: An angry mob lynched seven alleged robbers in central Bangladesh early on Monday morning, police said.
A gang of over 20 robbers tried to break into the house of a businessman in a predawn swoop but the screams of frightened inmates of the house raised alarm in the neighbourhood in Narsingdi district, police said.
"Sensing danger the robbers tried to flee the scene exploding bombs in a bid to keep people away creating panic, but the angry villagers tracked them down and beat seven of them to death instantly," an officer of Narsingdi Sadar police station told newsmen.
Private TV channels quoting witnesses reported that people came out of their houses as someone called out to them to chase the suspected robbers using the megaphone of a local mosque.
"Five of the fleeing robbers were caught in one spot and killed instantly while the three others were beaten to death in a nearby area," a village leader to a TV channel adding that the arrival of police at the scene saved an eighth captured robber from the people's wrath.
Police said the "rescued" suspected robber was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was being treated with critical wounds.
"Criminal activities like robbery increased in the area in recent time and the incident is visibly the outburst of people's anger," chairman of the local village council said.
