Mob attacks woman on suspicion of child-lifting

Kolkata: Local residents at Tikiapara in Howrah assaulted a woman on Wednesday suspecting her to be a child-lifer. The area turned into a war zone as police had to resort to lathi-charge and fire tear gas cells to disperse the violent

mob.

The woman, identified as Dipa Barua of Konnagar, was rescued by the police and admitted to Howrah District Hospital.

According to a source, on Wednesday, some local residents noticed the woman standing in front of a local bakery.

Seeing her standing aimlessly for some time they thought she could be a child trafficker. They started attacking her without listening what she had to say.

Howrah police station had received a tip-off about the situation following which officers rushed to the spot to rescue the woman.

When the police reached the spot the situation turned violent as some of the local residents attacked the officers as well.

Immediately, senior officials of Howrah Police were informed. Soon, more police force was deployed in the area. The area remained tensed and the law-and-order situation was not normal till Thursday morning.

Police had to resort to lathi-charge and fire tear gas cells to disperse the mob and local residents pelting stones at the officers.

Barua informed the police about her identity at the hospital. A source said Barua was from Konnagar and a divorcee. She was looking for a job to take care of her two children, the source said.

Later, police got in touch with her family members and on Thursday her son Akash, who studies in Class IX, along with another family member took her home.

Till Thursday night, no one was arrested in the case.

Following the incident, police are planning to launch mass awareness campaigns to put an end to such incidents.

The Kolkata Police are requesting people not to get swayed by rumours and take laws in their own hand.

The police have warned stringent action against those who will be caught for spreading rumours.

The police distributed leaflets and requested people to get in touch with them if they find anyone loitering in the area aimlessly.

The police are also keeping a tab on social media posts.