Two young men were beaten to death by a mob in Patna, police sources said on Sunday.

Virendra Rai was beaten to death over a small dispute near Shrikrishnapuri locality late on Saturday night by a mob of local people. "The incident took place over a dispute for a cigarette. Rai was beaten to death by bricks, stones and bamboo sticks," police sources said.

After news spread that Rai was beaten to death by local people, Rai's supporters caught one Kamlesh Kumar and beat him to death in the same manner as revenge.

Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Kundan Krishnan told rediff.com on Sunday that both were beaten to death by local people.

"First Rai was beaten to death followed by Kamlesh in revenge by Rai's supporters," he said.

According to police sources, two FIRs have been lodged from both sides.

Police has begun investigation to arrest those involved in the incidents.

In the last one and a half month, nearly a dozen cases of lynching were reported across the state.

Earlier this month two kidnappers were lynched by angry residents at Mahnagani in West Champaran district.

A mob had gouged out the eyes of three young men who had stolen a motorcycle in Nawada district on September 9.

Two persons were beaten to death in Patna on suspicion of being robbers on September 21.

Ten suspected thieves were also lynched in Vaishali district recently.