Patna: The state police on Saturday said the mob that lynched three persons in Begusarai on Friday had acted out of self-defence.

Additional director-general (headquarters) S.K. Singhal told reporters in Patna that the three persons were beaten to death by a group of Panchall village residents in self-defence.

"The deceased were carrying illegal arms and had threatened to shoot the residents. They had moreover gone there kidnap a girl from her school. The action against the three was taken by the residents in self-defence," he asserted.

The three persons killed were identified as Mukesh Kumar Mahto, Bauna Singh and Heera Singh. Mukesh had criminal antecedents and was known as a terror in the region. Begusarai superintendent of police on Saturday ordered the suspension of Chhaurahi police outpost's station house officer Sintu Jha for negligence of duty.