India, March 3 -- A 15-year-old, a grade 9 student, was allegedly lynched by villagers on suspicion of theft in Mayurbhanj district while his friend is batting for life after being beaten up by a mob.

Police arrested 12 persons after a video of the assault went viral on social media.

Police said the 15-year-old from a village under the Badampahar police station jurisdiction and his friend were tied up and brutally beaten by a group of people of Indukudi village under Tiring police station area of Mayurbhanj on Monday over allegations that they had stolen goats.

"A kangaroo court was held in the village where the two boys were held guilty before being assaulted with sticks even as they pleaded for mercy," said a police officer from Tiri...