VARANASI, March 31 -- A 17-year-old boy was allegedly beaten to death by six people near Kannadari village in Varanasi on Saturday night over suspicion of stealing a mobile phone, police said.

Sonu Ali, a mechanic from Punditpur village in Rohania area, was the sole earner for his family. According to his mother Sahana's written police complaint, Ramesh Patel alias Bablu, Rohit Patel, Ravi, Govinda and Guddu forcibly took her son from their house around 8 pm on Saturday, alleging he had stolen a phone.

Though Sahana pleaded with them not to take her son, they forcibly dragged him away, claiming they would take him to the police outpost. Instead, they beat him badly near Kannadari village. When his condition deteriorated, they took him t...