I have never been to Bihar, but it is considered to be one of the most corrupt states in India. Almost anything goes in that State. The thief was probably lucky to have only his eyes gouged out.
Where I grew up (Tanzania), if there was news of a thief on the run, the whole neghborhood would come out chase him and come close to short of killing him. I have seen people throw bricks on a thief's chest and slam his head between a car door multiple times. The thief would only be lucky if the police came in time to intervene. You'd almost feel sorry if you saw something like that.