Baripada, Jan. 17: Three persons have lynched a 43-year-old physically-challenged man after he allegedly molested a minor girl in Bangalidahi in Baisingha police limits in Mayurbhanj district.

One of the three accused has been arrested and the two others are at large.

Police said Tutu Singh, a physically-challenged person with both his legs afflicted by polio, from a village in Rupsa police limits of Balasore district had gone to visit relatives house in Bangali Sahi on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. During the celebrations, he consumed handia (local alcoholic drink) on Sunday night.

Apparently in an inebriated state, he allegedly molested the minor daughter of a relative and when the girl raised an alarm, people gathered at the spot.

Three persons beat up Tutu Singh with bamboo sticks and he died on the spot.

After the deceased's brother complained to the police on Monday, the cops went to the spot and seized the body. The cops arrested Tiger alias Bapi Singh, 26, of the same village while the other accused persons managed to flee from the village.

The absconding youths are Banthu Singh, 24, and Radha Singh, 25. The police have sent the body for postmortem.

A case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code has been registered.

"The deceased had allegedly molested the minor daughter of his relative. Three youths of the village beat him to death with sticks. While we have arrested one person, two have managed to escape. We will arrest them soon. The arrested person has been produced before court," said officer in charge of Baisinga police station Ramakanta Muduli.

Poll boycott call

The villagers of Daruthenga on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar have decided to boycott the upcoming rural polls as a mark of protest against the government's "disinterest" in relocating the Bhuasuni dump yard.

No candidate has filed nomination for the posts of sarpanch, ward member and panchayat samiti member in Daruthenga gram panchayat as yet.

The gram panchayat, having around 6,000 voters, has as many as 13 wards.

Local BJD MLA Bhagirathi Badajena said: "We are trying to convince the voters that an elected representative can press their demands before the authorities."