BARIPADA: An irate mob tied three persons, including two minor boys reportedly having mental problem, to a pole and beat them up mercilessly suspecting them to be child-lifters in Mayurbhanj district on Friday.
They are Jogendra Barik (26), Amarendra Barik (11) and Prakash Tudu (11) of Gudikhamari area in Ward 26 under Baripada Sadar police limits. The mob did not even spare Jogendra's father Somanath who reached there to rescue them after receiving information.
Police said the three persons were tied to a pole and beaten up severely by the unruly mob when the former could not tell their address to the villagers. The incident took place at Kalia Chhack in Rangamatia village, about five km from Baripada. The trio had come to Baripada to take part in Raja celebrations. They had also gone to Shankhabhanga biscuit factory but finding it closed, they decided to return to Gudikhamari.
However, they lost their way and went towards Kalia Chhack around noon. They asked some villagers about the direction to Gudikhamari but the latter suspected foul and questioned them about their whereabouts.
As the three did not give satisfactory answers, the villagers tied them to a pole and brutally assaulted them. Receiving information, IIC Tilottama Rout rescued them and admitted them to Baripada District Headquarters Hospital. Later, Jogendra and Amarendra were shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital as their condition deteriorated.
"A case under Sections 143, 147 and 304 and 34 of IPC have been filed against those involved in the attack after a police complaint was filed by Somanath," the IIC said and added that efforts are on to identify the accused persons. Somanath said Jogendra worked as a helper of a truck that was engaged in Shankhabhanga biscuit factory some time back.
A similar incident had taken place in the first week of June when a woman was lynched by an irate mob suspecting her to be a child-lifter at Domuhani village in Mayurbhanj district. The woman, Basanti Mahanta of Baisingha area, was also mentally challenged and had gone missing from her home. She was found roaming in Brahmangan village and locals suspected her to be child-lifter and questioned her.
When she did not respond to their queries, they tied her up with chains and assaulted her. They beat her with lathis, pelted stones at her and broke her legs.
The woman had died on the spot.