Rumours about child stealing have been persisting in Jharsuguda district for the last ten days and 10 more suspected people have been handed over to police by locals, informed Jharsuguda SDPO BK Nanda on Tuesday.
Addressing a Press meet here, the SDPO informed that some people beat up three persons on Monday evening at the BTM Chowk here suspecting them as child stealers. The mob also pelted stones at the police when they tried to pacify them. The police were forced to resort to a mild lathicharge to disperse them, he said.
Sources said two other women also seen at Sarbarna Orampada moving doubtfully on Sunday evening. They were also beaten up by youths.
The SDPO appealed to the people not to go by the rumour and take law into their hands. He said anyone can telephone to the PCR Vans at any time if he or she notices any suspected person or activity.
The police seized a motorcycle with a Chhattisgarh Registration number, 4 kg of ganja, injection syringes and some liquid solutions from these five suspects, sources said.
Earlier on Saturday evening, at two different places in Jharsuguda, general public had also beaten up five persons mercilessly suspecting them as child stealers. Police rescued them from the mob’s possession and detained them in the police station.
A week ago, the police had also recovered a suspect from the possession of a group of irate people at laharpada Purunabasti in a similar situation.
Meanwhile, locals have expressed concern over the situation and demanded that the police take required steps so that law and order situation would not be created.