Pak man dies after being burnt alive over robbery

Lahore: A 30-year-old man in Pakistan`s Punjab province was allegedly burnt alive on the order of a panchayat over allegations of his involvement in a robbery, his relatives said.

Mohammad Sikander, a labourer, was doused with kerosene and set alight on the order of a village council in Chiniot city, 100 km from Lahore, two days ago after he was accused of committing a robbery. He died today in a hospital. According to Sikander’s family, he was caught while allegedly robbing a house. Instead of handing him over to police, the local panchayat decided to punish him by "burning him alive", Sikander`s relatives said. However, police officials denied the family`s allegations. They said panchayat meetings were not held to consider petty issues like thefts. "We are investigating the matter to ascertain whether he set himself on fire or was burnt by some other persons," a police officer said. PTI