Baripada: A police official was Sunday suspended and 10 persons were arrested in connection with the lynching of a woman by a mob that suspected her to be a child lifter at Domuhani in Mayurbhanj district.
However, villagers protested the arrest of their fellowmen.
The police had suo motu registered a case of murder earlier in this connection while investigation was intensified to make more arrests.
“While 10 persons have so far been arrested, some more villagers are likely to be nabbed. Investigation showed involvement of many people in the incident,” said SC Roy, inspector-in-charge of Bangiriposi police station.
Meanwhile, the victim woman was identified as Basanti Mohanta (48) of Anla village in the district, he said.
She was on a visit to her daughter residing in Kalikapur area of Baripada town and then went missing from June 1. She was mentally unstable. A missing person’s complaint had also been lodged with Baripada Town police station by her daughter on that day.
When Basanti had been to Domuhani Friday, she was caught by the local people who tied her to a tree suspecting her to be a child lifter. A mob pelted stones at her and beat her up with sticks when she tried to escape. She died on the spot, the police said.
Mayurbhanj SP R Prakash has issued an order of suspension of assistant sub-inspector of police BK Sathua for alleged dereliction of duty, the police said.
The arrested villagers were identified as Naryan Marandi (45), Baraju Marandi (22), Pitambar Baske (45), Narendra Kishu (24), Balia Murmu (45), Bharat Gudu (35), Makar Gudu (35), Bhopal Gudu (30), Bhagirathi Gudu (40) and Raban Marandi (25).
However, villagers, alleging that those arrested by the police are innocent, staged protests at Bangiriposi police station Sunday.
Baripada sub-divisional police officer Abhimanyu Nayak rushed to the spot and tried to convince the agitators. PNN
