Odishatv Bureau

Bhubaneswar: At least four persons, including a woman and a mentally-challenged man, were thrashed by locals on suspicion of child-theft in three separate incidents in Kendrapara, Balasore and Ganjam districts today.

In Kendrapara, locals tied a mentally-challenged man to a tree and thrashed him on suspicion of being a child lifter at Balia village under Pattamundai block of the district. The mob also seized some money, one razor and a pair of new clothes from his possession. Police later reached the spot rescued the man, informed sources.

Similarly in Balasore, a woman was detained by locals and thrashed near Balanga Chhak on Soro-Anantpur road. On getting information, Anantpur police rushed to the spot and rescued the woman.

"We have detained the woman for questioning. Her identity is yet to be ascertained," said a police official.

In Ganjam, two persons faced mob fury and were beaten black and blue in Aska on suspicion of being child-lifters. Sources said, the duo was tied to trees and assaulted by locals.

Earlier, after two similar incidents of people being beaten up on suspicion of child theft were reported from Nayagarh and Ganjam districts, DGP RP Sharma on Sunday had denied reports that child lifting gangs are operating in Odisha and termed them as rumours.

On May 21, mob had thrashed at least six persons at various places in Rayagada district suspecting them as child-lifters.

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