A CORRESPONDENT
SILCHAR: Despite repeated warning by police and administration, mob attack on a suspected child lifter took a violent turn at Joypur in Cachar. More worrying fact was that a group of miscreants was desperately misusing the child lifter rumour to settle personal score. Sahin Ahmed Laskar (28), a cab driver was brutally beaten by a mob following a social media post gone viral that the driver had lifted a child. The incident happened in Joypur in Cachar. Police had arrested 10 local people, including a 17-year-old juvenile. Though the live footage showed few women in the mob beating Sahin with rod, dagger and other heavy weapons, police arrested only the males. Sahin was admitted in Silchar Medical College Hospital in a critical condition.
FIR, lodged by Sahin's family, said that he went to Lalung tea garden to drop some health workers. As he was returning, a group of local youths stopped his car and demanded donation for Durga Puja. Sahin told them he had no money with him. As he started driving, the youths gave him a chase. Later, they allegedly circulated on social media that Sahin was child lifter and a child was inside his car. The post spread like wildfire and a group of angry locals stopped the car at a place called Shivasthan and started beating Sahin. Police later rescued a profusely bleeding and unconscious Sahin and sent him SMCH. CacharSuperintendent of Police NomalMahato had already replaced VL Chodui, OC of Joypur outpost with Subir Gogoi.Mahato urged the people not to indulge in any violent activities on the basis of rumours. If they notice any suspicious person in their locality, they should immediately inform the police but in no case resort to any physical assault.
In last few days, four more incidents of mob attack following child lifter rumours took place in Cachar.
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