5 lynched in Maha on suspicion of being child-lifters

In a shocking incident, five persons were lynched to death after being suspected to be child lifters in the Dhule district of North Maharashtra on Sunday, according to the state police.

The incident was reported from Sakri tehsil, nearly 350 kms from Mumbai.

According to reports reaching here, a group of seven to eight persons were assaulted by a group of people in the Rainpada hamlet. The incident took place as soon as they got down from a bus.

The deceased were hit with stones and sticks and their bodies were dumped near the gram panchayat office.

The bodies have been shifted to Pimpalner hospital, where the post-mortem would be conducted.

The deceased are yet to be identified. So far, no arrests have been made.

Maharashtra Congress President and former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan expressed shock over the incident and urged the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP-Shiv Sena government to take action and curb rumour mongering.

“In Dhule, five persons were killed after people suspected them to be child lifters. It is shocking and unfortunate. This is because of rumour mongering,” Chavan said.

This is not the first incident of lynching in Maharashtra.

Last month, two persons were killed in Aurangabad district after people suspected them to be robbers.

The Maharashtra police headquarters has sought a detailed report over the incident.

“Such rumour mongering creates fear among masses who at times are resorting violence against strangers. Incidents of such attacks leading to grievous injury and death have been reported from many units in the state. It may lead to law and order problem,” a senior police official wrote to superintendents of police of districts.

The state headquarters has also called for reports from all districts about similar incidents that have been reported in the last two to three months.

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