Mob in Odisha attacks Delhi woman and Gujarat man over false child-lifter rumours; 16 arrested
In a disturbing incident highlighting the dangers of mob violence fuelled by misinformation, a woman from Delhi and a man from Gujarat were assaulted by a mob in Odisha's Rayagada district on June 16 after being falsely accused of being child kidnappers. Police have arrested 16 individuals in connection with the attack.
The victims are development workers associated with voluntary organisations under fellowship programmes. The woman works on solid waste management initiatives in Kalahandi district, while the man, a resident of Surat, is involved in a turmeric packaging project in Kandhamal district.
According to police, the two were travelling from Daringbadi in Kandhamal to Thuamul Rampur in Kalahandi on a scooter. They stopped near Kandulguda village to seek directions. When they interacted with a group of children and offered them chocolates, some villagers grew suspicious and spread a rumour that the outsiders were child-lifters.
The victims later alleged that despite showing their identity cards repeatedly and explaining the purpose of their visit, they were attacked by the mob. The woman was partially stripped during the assault. The mob chased and assaulted both individuals before police arrived.
Rayagada Superintendent of Police Raj Prasad confirmed that the Kalyansinghpur police rescued the victims and arrested 16 persons based on CCTV footage. Preliminary investigations suggest that 40 to 50 people may have been involved in the attack. Police are verifying videos recorded by bystanders at the scene.
Four cases have been registered in connection with the incident. The authorities are taking the matter seriously, emphasising that such acts of mob violence based on unfounded rumours will not be tolerated.
This incident underscores the urgent need for community awareness and strict action against those who resort to violence based on unverified information. The victims were carrying out legitimate development work and were in no way involved in any criminal activity.
