NGO Worker Assaulted by Mob in Odisha After Being Mistaken for Kidnapper
In a disturbing incident in Odisha's Rayagada district, a female NGO worker and her male colleague were assaulted by a mob after being mistaken for child kidnappers. The incident occurred on the night of June 16 in Kandulguda village, under the Kalyansinghpur police station.
The two workers were travelling from Kandhamal district towards Thuamul Rampur in Kalahandi. Unfamiliar with the area, they relied on a navigation system that led them onto a wrong route, bringing them to Rayagada district. According to police, they stopped in Kandulguda village to ask for directions and distributed biscuits to local children. Soon, a rumour spread that they were kidnappers.
The survivor alleged that a group of people stopped their scooter, removed the key, and demanded identification. Despite showing her ID card, the crowd remained unconvinced. The mob then thrashed the woman and tore her clothes. Her male colleague was also beaten. The assault was filmed by several villagers on their mobile phones.
Local residents eventually intervened and informed the police. Rayagada Superintendent of Police Raj Prasad said officers rushed to the spot, rescued the victims, and admitted them to a local hospital. They were later shifted to the district headquarters hospital and discharged after treatment.
Police have arrested 21 individuals in connection with the assault. SP Prasad stated, "Further investigation is ongoing, and all other persons involved in the crime will not be spared."
This incident highlights the dangers of mob violence driven by unverified rumours. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activity to the police rather than taking the law into their own hands.
