'Thief gang' found in India river

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The bodies of an alleged gang of thieves beaten to death by villagers in northern India last week have been found in a river, officials say.

The bodies of 10 men, who were lynched by villagers in Bihar who suspected them of being thieves, had been handed over to local police for cremation.

But police allegedly dumped the bodies in the river before they were burned.

The government has suspended three officials, including two policemen, in connection with the incident.

The local police chief and administrator have been transferred from the Vaishali district where the incident took place.

The police allegedly started the process of burning the bodies, but stopped the cremation shortly afterwards and threw the corpses in the river.

They were later found washed up on the river banks.

The men, who arrived in a vehicle in Vaishali early on Thursday, were stopped by villagers who suspected them of being thieves.

Mob fury

The villagers had set up patrols after complaining about a spate of thefts, and the lack of police action.

Correspondents say that the incident highlighted the widespread problem of mob lynching in India.

One man who survived the lynching told the police that they had come to the village to commit thefts, an official said.

The eastern state of Bihar is considered to be one of India's most lawless.

It has seen a number of recent incidents of mob lynching and alleged police brutality.

Last month, the local police were filmed joining a mob to punch and kick a man accused of stealing a gold chain in Bhagalpur town.

At least two policemen could be seen in the video.

Two have been suspended pending an inquiry into the incident.

Earlier this month, a mob beat three people suspected of stealing motorcycles in Nawada district and gouged out the eyes of one of them.