Policemen appeared to leave the man unattended after the incident.
Highlights
- Man suspected of stealing two-wheeler beaten to death by mob in Manipur
- Police seen in video doing nothing as man lay injured on Thursday
- 5 people, including IRB police constable, have been arrested for attack
Four policemen, including a sub-inspector, have been suspended in Manipur after they were seen in a video doing nothing to save a 26-year-old man severely injured in a mob attack on Thursday. The man died from his injuries later.
The video of the incident which went viral on social media showed that the four police personnel were "present at the spot when the victim was alive and lying unattended", senior police officer Jogeshwar Haobijam in the Imphal West district told news agency PTI.
NDTV could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.
Farooque Khan, a resident of Thoubal district, was mercilessly beaten by a mob early Thursday at Tharoijam area in West Imphal on suspicion that he had stolen a two-wheeler.
Several videos recorded by witnesses showing the man writhing in pain and getting beaten by the crowd circulated on social media.
Two others with Khan, who managed to escape, have not been identified so far. Local people set fire to a car believed to have been used by the men.
Five people, including a constable of the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) police force, have been arrested in the incident so far.
The mob attack triggered sharp condemnation and sit-in protests by social activists in the area.
The Manipur Human Rights Commission also directed the state director general of police to probe the incident and submit a report by September 22.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh too has ordered a fast track probe into the incident and also on the alleged police negligence.
(With inputs from PTI)