New Delhi: A 15-year-old boy was on Friday beaten to death by a fruit seller for stealing a mango from his cart. The incident occurred in Seemapuri in east Delhi, police said.

It said that Sheikh Sehdul was attacked with an iron rod which was used by the accused for lighting a battery operated tube-light.

Police said quoting eye-witnesses that the boy had demanded a mango from the accused and offered Rs 10 for the same.

The accused, however, refused to give the mango as the boy was not handing over the money, police said, adding that when the vendor was busy with other customers, the boy pocketed a mango.

Enraged by the boy's conduct, the accused beat him to death and fled the scene, police said, adding that he is still to be arrested.

The child was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival, it said. The murder triggered tension in the area which led to the deployment of heavy police presence.