Hinjilicut: A mentally challenged youth had to face the wrath of the villagers of Barida village under Kabisuryanagar police limits in Ganjam district after he came under suspicion for a robbery. Locals beat him up black and blue Saturday night.
The angry villagers tied him to a pole and tortured him throughout the night before he was rescued by the police Sunday morning. He was then admitted to Aska government hospital for treatment. Preliminary investigation found the youth was innocent and mentally challenged.
He was unnecessarily suspected by the villagers as he was roaming around aimlessly and fell prey to rumours, police said.
According to sources, the villagers had taken a decision to guard the village due to repeated thefts in the area. Earlier, miscreants had slit the throat of an elderly woman in a theft bid. The woman was rescued and admitted to Berhampur district headquarters hospital. Since then, the villagers were on the lookout for the robbers.
Unaware of the incidents, the mentally challenged youth happened to cross the village Saturday night. Suspecting him, locals caught hold of him.
Earlier, the locals had also beaten up a youth due to suspicion. They garlanded him with slippers and tonsured his head before parading him in the village street. The incident was a fallout of the presence of a liquor shop in the area, locals complained.
They demanded the shifting of the liquor shop to avoid the movement of anti-social youths in the area. PNN