A man in Telangana’s Nizamabad district died on Saturday after a group of villagers hit him with stones and sticks because he had allegedly raped a seven-year-old girl, IANS reported. The villagers beat him up after tying him to a tree, and he died on his way to hospital, the police said on Sunday.

The incident took place in Donkeshwar village. The man, 45-year-old Sayanna, was allegedly drunk when he called his neighbour’s daughter to his house after offering her chocolates. He later raped her. Villagers told the girl’s parents after they saw that she was crying and was also bleeding.

The parents took her to a hospital in a neighbouring village. Meanwhile, the villagers found Sayanna, tied him to a tree, and threw stones at him. He was seriously injured and lost consciousness.

The police have started an investigation. Those who assaulted him are absconding.