Over suspicion that he was a mobile phone thief, a man was beaten dead by several local people in Sitakunda upazila of Chittagong early today.

The deceased Abdul Malek, 35, son of Siddikur Rahman, hailing from Haziganj in Chandpur. Law enforcers detained two people in this connection.

Malek was dragged out of his house around 12:30am over allegation that he had stolen a mobile phone from a factory, Iftekher Hasan, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sitakunda Police Station, quoted locals to tell The Daily Star.

The factory concerned is a filter water selling company belonging to one Riad Chowdhury. Some staffs of the factory dragged him out.

Later police recovered the body from the road this morning after locals informed them, said the OC. "There were signs of injury in different parts of the body."

Police detained two staff of the factory in this connection, he said, adding, Riad, the owner of the factory, was on the run.

The body was sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital Morgue for an autopsy, said the OC, adding, filing of a case in this connection was under process.