SUKKUR, Sept 10: Two alleged thieves, who were caught red handed during an attempted theft bid in a cloth shop in Shahi Bazaar, Pano Akil, on late night Tuesday, were mercilessly thrashed by the residents of the area and later handed over to the police.

The alleged thieves broke into the cloth shop of Ali Jan Malik, when they were caught red handed by the area people, who reportedly took off their clothes and tortured them mercilessly. Both the thieves were identified as Asif Ali and Kashif. In the mean time, Saeed Ali father of Asif Ali reached on the spot and the people maltreated him, too.

Later, both the accused were handed over to the area police and the police admitted Asif Ali in the Taluka Hospital of Pano Akil.

Talking to newsmen in hospital, Asif Ali said that he was not a thief rather he was having monetary dispute with shop owner Ali Jan Malik, who staged this drama. However, no case was registered till the filing of this report.