A 39-year-old man from Assam was thrashed recently at Thanagazi in Rajasthan’s Alwar suspecting him to be a child-lifter.
The incident brings forth the truth that despite efforts being made by police to prevent child-lifting rumours through by distributing pamphlets and organizing meetings, the menace continues unabated.
According to a media report, the victim of the attack has been identified as Chandrashekhar.
An injured Chandrashekhar was hospitalized in critical condition.
However, his condition is stated to be out of danger.
The incident took place at Moosa Khera village in Kishangarh Bas Tehsil in Alwar district.
He was reportedly tied with a rope and thrashed by the locals.
On being informed, the police rescued him and took to the hospital.
According to reports, a total of 21 people have been booked by the police for being involved in the mob attack.
As per another report, the man was thrashed over suspicion of theft.
The police have registered a case against unnamed attackers for being involved in the incident.
It may be mentioned that in northeastern states, several cases of mob attack have taken place in the recent years where several youths have lost their lives due to rumours.
It has been reported that two years back, mysterious ‘braid-chopping’ rumours created a wave of paranoia in Rajasthan.
The fresh incident of rumours over presence child-lifters’ gangs has set off alarms across the State.
The police have already remained alert to prevent incidents of mob attacks due to such rumours.
A media report quoted the Additional DGP (Crime), B.L. Soni as saying that all the district police of Rajasthan have been directed to prevent rumour mongering by organizing public meetings.
The district police have also been asked to create awareness about rumours so that no untoward incident takes place.
Soni said, “We have told people not to trust rumours.”
The report also quoted Bandikui station house officer Rakendra Kumar as saying that they have organized many meetings to make people aware.
As social media platforms play a vital role in spreading rumours, Kumar said, “We told the people not to trust rumours on social media.”
It may be mentioned that on June 8, 2018, Abhijeet Nath and Nilotpal Das from Guwahati were lynched at Panjuri village under Dokmoka PS in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district suspecting them as child-lifters.