(dpa/NAN) Police said no fewer than six men were beaten to death by mob in eastern India on suspicion that they had kidnapped children, a media report said on Friday.

The killings took place in two separate incidents in adjoining districts of Jharkhand State on Thursday.

Angry villagers pelted stones, clashed with police and also torched two police vehicles.

Police officer Prashant Anand said the first incident took place in East Singbhum District, where three men were beaten to death by villagers who accused them of kidnapping children.

“The tribal villagers cornered the men and tempers ran high after they came to know they were outsiders, belonging to another district.

“Suspecting them to be child-lifters, a mob physically assaulted and beat them with sticks until they died.

“In the second related incident that occurred in adjoining Seraikela district, three more men were lynched on similar suspicion,’’ Anand said.

Police, however, denied reports that a number of child abduction cases were reported in the region.

“No such cases have been reported, we are trying to check the spread of rumours which is responsible for the violence.

“We will identify and arrest those responsible for circulating such rumours,’’ Anand stressed.