Anandapur: Anandapur police arrested six persons Monday on charges of thrashing a youth over child-lifting rumours at Baniajodi village under Anandapur police limits in Keonjhar district Friday.
The identity of the victim, whose condition is said to be critical, is yet to be ascertained. Police rescued him from the clutches of a mob and admitted him to Anandapur district headquarters hospital (DHH). Subsequently, he was then shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack as his condition worsened.
Police have registered a case against all the six accused and started a probe. They were produced in court and later remanded to judicial custody after their bail pleas were rejected.
The accused have been identified as Sandhu Hembram and another Sandhu Hembram of Baniajodi village, Soma Hembram, Dilu Birua, Laxman Hembram and Saban Hembram.
Meanwhile, several incidents of violence over child-lifting have been reported from various parts of the state during the last one week. A day back, the police launched an awareness vehicle to spread awareness about rumours regarding child-lifting cases on social media.
Earlier, as many as 19 persons were arrested – 16 in Rayagada and three in Balasore district, over assaults on innocent people, suspecting them to be child-lifters. DGP RP Sharma has issued an advisory on the issue and warned of stringent actions against people who took law in their hands.
PNN