Patna, Aug 7 - Four members of a nomadic tribe were lynched Thursday evening in Bihar's Kaimur district on the suspicion that they were involved in a theft in the area, police said Friday. Three of the alleged assailants have been arrested.

The four men were beaten to death at Kudra village in Kaimur district, about 200 km from the state capital, for their alleged involvement in a theft at a liquor shop in the area.

The victims -- identified as Shankar, 30, Lakhan, 26, Majanu, 25 and Soojan, 27 -- were banjaras, a sub-group of the Nat nomadic tribe. Originally hailing from Bharatpur in Rajasthan, they were living along with their families in Kaimur for over a decade and trying to earn a livelihood.

Police have lodged a case and arrested three of the accused, Additional Director General of Police (headquarters) Neelmani said Friday.

Family members of the four victims told police they had gone to the village pond but some people attacked them and others beat them with bamboo sticks and iron rods, killing them.