Locals of Goldhunga, on the northwestern outskirts of Kathmandu, beat a man to death on Thursday night. Though the locals launched the attack charging him of theft, the victim was later found to be innocent.

The victim has been identified as Chhiring Lama, a native of Rasuwa, who was currently living in Kapurdhara of Kathmandu. Another person, identified as Darje Tamang, has been injured in the incident.

According to police, the two had made a noise under the influence of alcohol in Goldhunga, Tarakeshwar municipality-5, near midnight yesterday. A dog barked at them, inciting the drunk men. Following that, the locals had come out of their houses.

The dispute intensified before the duo ran away, shouting ‘Thief’. Other people who were unaware of the incident mistook them for thieves and launched the attack.

The police, then, were reported about the incident. The law enforcers sent the injured duo to the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, which declared Lama dead.

SSP Shyam Lal Gyawali, the chief of the Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu, says a further investigation into the case is underway.