Noida: A 27-year-old man who had come to the city from Hardoi in search of work was allegedly beaten to death after neighbours suspected him of stealing a mobile phone. Pramod Kumar was cornered and assaulted late on Monday night in Harola. Five persons were arrested and a juvenile detained in connection with the death.Pramod had reached Harola earlier in the day and was staying with an acquaintance, Neeraj Lodhi, in a rented room. His cousin Sushil and another villager, Vijay, live nearby.Trouble began on Monday afternoon when Pramod was near Neeraj’s room. A resident of the same building accused him of stealing his wife’s mobile phone, triggering an argument and commotion. Pramod left after the confrontation.Around 10pm, however, he returned to the area. Police said residents who were already suspicious of him confronted and surrounded him. He was allegedly kicked and punched, which left him critically injured.Pramod was found lying on the road after the assault. Neeraj, Sushil and Vijay reached the spot after being alerted and rushed him to District Hospital in Sector 39. Doctors examined him and declared him dead.His family was informed, following which his maternal uncle, who lives in Ghaziabad, approached police. A case was initially registered under a provision relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Police are now examining whether the phone was actually stolen or whether Pramod was attacked solely on suspicion.After a Dial 112 alert, police questioned around 15 suspects between 2am and 6am. By 8am, Santosh Kumar Mandal (30), Karan Kumar Mandal (23), Suresh Mandal (48), Raunak Kumar Mandal (19) and Nikhil alias Bravo (22) were arrested. Neeraj, Sushil and Vijay identified them to police, saying they were among those who assaulted Pramod. A juvenile was also detained.Police said the accused told them they did not know Pramod and had found him inside or near their rented premises on Aug 31. They allegedly questioned him over the suspected theft before assaulting him.All five arrested men were tenants in Harola. Santosh and Karan are from Supaul, Suresh and Raunak from Madhubani, and Nikhil from Ara – all in Bihar.Pramod’s family said he had come only to find work. He had studied till Class 8 and was unmarried, leaving behind four sisters and two brothers.Police are questioning witnesses and checking CCTV footage and other evidence. After the autopsy, his body was handed to the family, who took it to their native village in Hardoi for the last rites.—
