A 45-year-old man from Nallasopara in western part of Thane district was allegedly beaten to death by a mob who suspected him to be a thief, district rural police said.
As per a complaint filed by a woman, she saw about ten locals chasing the man yesterday morning in Nallasopara area, Waliv Police Station inspector Narayan Patil said.
The mob, armed with iron rods and sticks, allegedly beat up the man severely following which he died on the spot, Patil said.
The body of the deceased, identified as Mohamad Yunus Ansari, a resident of Dhaniv Bhaugh in Nallasopara, was later sent for post-mortem to a local government hospital.
Police have identified some of those who beat up the man and have registered offences against them under IPC sections 302 (murder), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 148 and 149.
A manhunt has been launched to nab the accused, police added.
