Indian villagers burn robbers to death

Angry villagers in eastern India burned alive eight robbers and beat four others to death, police said today.

About 20 robbers raided a remote village in Jharkhand state late yesterday, but they were surrounded by hundreds of villagers, who began chasing them, police said.

"Four were beaten to death, while eight took shelter in a house, which was set on fire by the villagers," Mohammad Nehal, a senior police officer, told Reuters.

Armed villagers stood guard outside to ensure none of the robbers escaped, he said.

Jharkhand is one of the most lawless states in India, where people often take the law into their own hands to protect themselves from criminals. Police were investigating the case.