In a bizarre incident, three youths sustained serious acid injuries, when a mob threw corrosive substances on them, who were boarded in a police van on Monday afternoon at Sidhai Mohanpur area under West Tripura district.

Sources said that the local traders of Sidhai Mohanpur Bazar detained a suspected thief and thrashed him severally. Later, the traders have also detained three more youths, who are the relatives of suspected thieves and had also beaten them.

Later, police forces from Sidhai Mohanpur police station rushed to the spot and rescued three suspected thieves identified as  Pratosh Das, Kajal Das and Samir Das.

When, police forces after rescuing them from the clutches of mob fury,  all trio were boarded in a police van and when, the police van reached near  Simna tea garden area, a group of agitated mob about 150 to  200 people gheraoed the police van and tried to snatch away three youths into their captivity.

But, on-duty police personnel resisted them, and suddenly, agitated people threw acid in the police van targeting three youths. Immediately, amidst hue and cry, police and other people spotted them escaping from the spot to protect themselves, but three suspected thieves boarded in the van suffered grievous acid injuries.

 Later, police and firefighters brought them to GB Hospital in critical condition.

Police said that they have lodged a specific FIR against the mob violence and attack on police van. So far there are no reports of any arrest.

Meanwhile, one of the injured youth admitted to GB Hospital,  Prantosh Das claimed that they were never involved with any stolen incident held in the market and he had identified a man, Goutam Santhal, who had thrown acid in the police car targeting them.