A rumour in social media about child lifters on prowl takes its toll on innocent people here.

The strangers are targeted and beaten up in public while it has become extremely difficult for the law enforcement agencies to contain the menace when mob lynching is on despite police advisories and warnings of strong action.

On Monday as many as five separate incidents of assaulting innocent people were reported in Soro, Nilgiri, Khaira, Basta and Remuna areas.

The police rescued the victim when they were facing almost lynching threat. In Soro, the local police recued a woman, who appears to be mentally challenged. The victim was virtually stripped and beaten up by the locals suspecting her to be a child thief.

Eastern Range DIG Amitendranath Sinha said the SPs of Baleswar, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj will personally look into the matter and take adequate steps to prevent occurrence of such incidents. He clarified that in none of the cases, the suspects were found to be culprits.

“We have already issued advisories to all the district police heads. Further, the SPs have been urged to be more vigilant on the issue till it subsides. Some unscrupulous elements are getting sadistic pleasure in the issue,” said Sinha .

Baleswar SP B Jugal Kishor said stern action would be taken against the errant and mischief mongers.

“In the case of Soro, three persons have been arrested. In other places, investigations are in progress. Further, the miscreants would be dealt with firm hand according to law,” said the SP.

"Anyone who comes across such cases of torture or atrocities should inform to the nearest police station immediately," he appealed.

Similarly, a deaf and dumb man who was resting in a bank in Kansa under Nilgiri block was thrashed by a group suspecting him as a child lifter.

Reports said one in a group of nomads who were camping near Tudigadia in Khaira area was attacked near Janhiapada . Similar instances of attacks were also reported from Basta and Hatiagand areas in Remuna.