Rayagada: Police have detained about 20 persons on charges of indulging in violence and creating an atmosphere of terror over child-lifting rumours. Of them, 16 were arrested from Perguda village in Rayagada district. They had thrashing two persons on suspicion of being child-lifters.
Three others were detained at Simulia area in Balasore district for stripping and beating up a woman in public, suspecting her to be a child lifter. A video of a mob thrashing the woman went viral on social media. It showed locals attacking the woman at Balang Square on Soro-Anantapur Road in Balasore district. The mob had also stripped the woman in public. Later, police reached the spot and admitted her to a hospital.
In the recent past, many such incidents were reported from Ganjam, Kendrapara, Rayagada, Balasore and Nayagarh areas. Mostly homeless beggars and mentally-challenged persons have fallen prey to mob fury.
The incidents of mob violence over child-theft rumours became frequent after a video showing miscreants lifting children and extracting their eyes and kidneys went viral a few days ago.
Following this, the state DGP had issued an advisory, urging people to verify and report any such suspicious activity to the local police, instead of taking law into their hands. Police has made it clear it is not aware of the presence of any such gang in the state.