LUCKNOW, April 8 -- Eighteen people, including seven women, have been arrested for beating a murder convict to death in front of a constable and a home guard in a Hardoi village on Monday, senior police officials said on Tuesday. The crime was executed to avenge the murder, allegedly committed by the victim in the same village nearly 17 years ago, they claimed.

According to Hardoi superintendent of police (SP) Neeraj Kumar Jadaun, the incident took place in Bhaingaon village under Beniganj police station limits on Monday afternoon when one Rahul, along with over 40 others, fatally attacked Sarpanch Mahawat (49), who was accused of killing Rahul's father Rampal, along with his brother Bablu, in 2009.

Beniganj police station inspector in-...