4 women beaten up, stripped in West Bengal on child-lifting rumour
Doubting the BJP’s “genuine intent to act” on rising number of lynching cases across the country, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has wondered why the saffron leadership was only sticking to ritualistic condemnation and not taking exemplary action instead, “so that the situation can be arrested from deteriorating further.”
Referring to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s condemnation of lynching cases in Parliament Banerjee, said instead of condemning these incidents why they are not trying to control their leaders” down the line, reminding “after all charity begins at home.”
India is passing through a serious phase, she said demanding “strict action” against the perpetrators of the crimes. “It is a serious phase we are passing through and there is a need for strict action against those who are involved in such cases if we really want to control the situation,” Banerjee said referring to the lynching of Rakbar Khan a resident of Alwar in Rajasthan a few days ago. She was speaking to journalists at State administrative headquarters at Nabanna.
In a circuitous reference to the failure of the BJP-led Rajasthan Government to control such cases, Banerjee reminded that law and order was a State subject and it was on the State Governments to take the lead in handling such cases.
Condemning the “hate campaign” responsible for the rising number of lynching cases Banerjee said, “hate campaigns should be stopped immediately.” Rumor-mongering through social media platforms should be stopped in order to stop lynching she maintained.
Meanwhile, in a related development four women were allegedly mobbed and beaten up on suspicion of being child-lifter by villagers at Dawkimari village in Dhupguri block of Jalpaiguri district in North Bengal.
The incident took place on Monday noon. One of the women had come to visit a cooperative bank while another was looking for her relatives sources said adding the foursome were in the age group of 25-50 years.
This was the fourth such incident in Jalpaiguri district and second in Dhupguri. District Superintendent of Police A Maity said that villagers beat the women up on suspicion of being child-lifter. Two of the victims were also stripped sources added.
Earlier this month, several people were injured at the Kranti area of Mal block in the district in stone-pelting following rumours that child-lifters were roaming in the area. “We are creating awareness on this through the social media and public media like announcements over mikes. People should contact the police on the helpline if they find someone suspicious, but not take law into their own hands,” the senior officer added.