In a suspected case of moral policing, a 42-year-old man was today beaten to death by a group of persons at Mankada in Malappuram district, police said.

Nasir Hussain was questioned by a group of locals around 2.30 am when he was spotted near the house of a woman, who is staying alone, Mankada police said.

An argument ensued between him and the locals following which they beat him up severely. After Hussain fell unconscious, the group fled the scene, police said.

On receiving information about the incident, police reached the spot and took him to a private hospital at Perinthalmanna but he died on the way, they said.

Three persons have been taken into custody in connection with the incident, police said.