10 produced in court in woman lynching incident

Baripada: Police today arrested ten persons and produced them before a local court in connection with the lynching of a woman by a mob suspecting her to be a child lifter at Domuhani in Mayurbhanj district.

"While ten persons have so far been arrested, some more villagers are likely to be nabbed. Investigation showed involvement of many people in the incident," said S C Roy, Inspector In-Charge of Bangiriposi police station.

Meanwhile, the woman, who was lynched yesterday, has been identified as Basanti Mohanta (48) of village Anla of Mayurbhanj 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. A missing report was also lodged with Baripada town police by her daughter on that day.

When she went to Domuhani village on Friday, she was caught by the local people who tied her to a tree suspecting her as a child lifter. A mob pelted stones and beat her with sticks when the woman tried to escape. She died on the spot, police said.

Mayurbhanj SP R Prakash on Saturday put Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police B K Sathua of Bangiriposi Police Station under suspension for alleged dereliction of duty.