LUCKNOW, Oct. 4 -- Five villagers were arrested on Saturday for allegedly lynching a 38-year-old man on suspicion of being a drone thief in Rae Bareli district's Unchahar area, police said. The local police station incharge was also removed for failing to prevent the incident despite prior alerts over rumours of drone thieves across rural Uttar Pradesh.

Rae Bareli superintendent of police (SP) Yashveer Singh confirmed that Unchahar police station incharge Sanjay Kumar was transferred to the crime branch for negligence. Villagers were already on high alert due to rumours of drone thieves. Patrolling was going on in groups at night. Yet the incident could not be averted, Singh said.

According to Dalmau circle officer (CO) Girja Shankar Tr...