Man dies in 'mistaken identity' attack in Delhi

A man was beaten to death and his friend injured by some people who mistook them as members of their rival group, police said Monday.

The incident happened late Sunday in the Model Town area of north Delhi when Rasheed, 25, and Gulfam, 22, were returning home after work.

"Two groups of vegetable vendors were fighting over a trivial issue when a stone hit Gulfam on the head and he started bleeding. As Rasheed came to his help, about 10 people came and started beating the two," a police officer told IANS.

They later escaped from the scene.

Other passersby took the two to a hospital where Rasheed was declared dead while Gulfam is recuperating, said the officer.

Police have arrested two attackers -- Neeraj and Rajkumar -- who told police they mistakenly identified Rasheed and Gulfam as members of the rival group.

Deputy Commissioner of Police N. Gana Sambandhan told IANS the police have identified the other attackers and will arrest them soon.