Keonjhar, April 14: An irate mob lynched a mentally deranged person at Barbil in Keonjhar district last night after he had killed an eight-year-old boy.

The deceased, identified as Muna, had killed Sudram Munda of Karakhenda village. Sudram had come to his uncle’s house at Thakurani Hating under Barbil police station to witness Ram Navami celebrations.

When the boy was returning to his uncle’s house after the function, heavy rain and storm hit the area. He took shelter in an abandoned house but had no idea that a killer was stalking him.

Finding the boy alone, Muna attacked him with a club and beat him to death. As the news spread, enraged locals caught Muna and beat him to death.

“Our investigation shows that the local people took the law into their own hands after coming to know of the boy’s murder. The frenzied beat the man to death,” said S.K. Mandal, the police officer.

No arrest have been made so far though two separate cases have been registered in this connection.

“We have seized both the bodies and sent them for post-mortem,” said Mandal, adding that action would be taken after the autopsy report was received.

“We did not anticipate that our nephew would meet such gruesome death,” said Sambari Munda, the boy’s aunt.

“Muna used to wander around in the area. But he never indulged in such behaviour before,” said Tuna Munda, a local resident.