Balasore: Police advisory not to give credence to rumours about child-lifters being on the prowl seems to be finding few takers with mobs across the state meting out justice to such perpetrators at the mere whiff of suspicion.
Strangers, mostly poor men wandering around on the streets and residential areas for alms, or the mentally-challenged, have borne the brunt of this mass hysteria.
In yet another such incident, a youth, suspected to be a child-lifter, was allegedly tied to a pole and brutally thrashed by residents at Hashimpur village in Balasore district.
The victim, Sarat Giri of Khalban village, had gone to the village to witness a festival. Being new there, he was wandering around aimlessly and made enquiries about the festival. That was enough for some of the residents to grow suspicious and give him a beating.
“I had only enquired about the jatra, but some people caught me and then thrashed me through the night,” said Sarat.
After getting information, Baliapal police reached the village and rescued Sarat. He was then admitted at a hospital with severe injuries.
While the police are seen to be doing their bit by spreading awareness and cautioning people, to some, it is not enough.
“The will to come down hard on perpetrators of such crimes seems to be lacking on the part of the police,” felt a conscious citizen. “The miscreants need to be put behind bars under strong penal provisions… they could be jailed on the charge of attempt to murder,” he said ruing, “instead, they get away.”
PNN