Mob thrashes youth on mere suspicion of being child lifter

A youth was beaten up by a mob on mere suspicion of being a child lifter. The incident that occurred at Atpur area of Jagatdal in North 24 Parganas on Wednesday morning triggered tension in the area.

Local people caught the victim who they claimed was aimlessly loitering in the area. The youth allegedly failed to provide a satisfactory answer to where he was going.

They started beating up the victim as they suspected that he might be involved in child lifting. The local residents also claimed that there were two more youth accompanying the victim but they managed to flee the spot when the people chased the victim.

A mob tied the victim to an electric pole and beat him up. The victim pleaded his innocence and said that he was not a child lifter. But he failed to convince the people.

After being informed, the police reached the spot and rescued the victim. He was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries on various parts of his body.

The victim received fractures on his face. He has been undergoing treatment at the hospital. Police have started a probe in this regard. They were investigating if the victim has any involvement with a child trafficking racket.

It may be mentioned that two persons were killed in lynching in past one week under Jagatdal police station area.

Seven persons received injuries when the mob attacked them on suspicion of being child lifters.

Local people alleged that there is growing tension in the locality after some incidents of child lifting had taken place in the area in last one month.

The local police administration is, however, conducting awareness campaign in the locality.

It may be mentioned that the state government on Monday sounded an alert against mischief-makers who have been spreading rumours on social network that dacoits, child lifters, and "aliens from outer space" are roaming in various districts including Hooghly, Burdwan, North 24 Parganas and Nadia.

The rumour had led to hysteria in rural pockets in the districts, resulting in assault on more than a dozen people.