They lynched a 30-year-old molester in Azadnagar, a small community near Terdal village some 30 km east of this historic city recently. The women have been remanded in police custody till Tuesday by a judicial magistrate from Ichalkaranji.

Jilani Mansoor Patel, a criminal on police record, felled to the wrath of women in Azadnagar after he allegedly teased a woman in his neighbourhood. According to Hatkanangale police, cases of molesting, assaults and causing terror at a knife point had earlier been registered against Patel.

On Wednesday evening, Patel allegedly thrashed up a Maulavi at the mosque after the prayer and also threatened women staying in the vicinity. Next morning, he allegedly molested awoman in his neighbourhood.

Enraged, a group of women from the vicinity snared him in front of the mosque on Thursday. They allegedly hurled chilly-water on him and later assaulted him with stones, bricks and wooden blocks.

Patel was lying in a pool of blood and was still surrounded by his women executors when police reached the spot, a police constable at Hatkanangale police station recalled. Patel's head was found smashed completely, it was stated.

Police later rounded up 33 women on the charge of a murder on the basis of a complaint filed by the deceased's wife. They all were later produced before a magistrate in Ichalkaranji.

A mason by profession, Jilani hailing from Sangli had been shifted to Azadnagar with his 26-year-old wife and daughters, Khatija (seven), Khatima (five), Aboobkar (three) and Ayesha (one).

According to available information, the local police had registered seven cases against Patel of teasing women, abusing, assaulting and threatening others. The women in the locality weresaid to be angry with him due to his behaviour. It is said that Jilani often borrowed money from others and used to threaten those who sought repayment of the debts.

Police sub-inspector in-charge of the Hatkanangale police station Vijay Palsule is investigating the case.