Dhule, Maharashtra: 5 people were killed by villagers after they suspected them of being child kidnappers
A number of cases of violence after WhatsApp rumours pertaining to child kidnappers spread, were reported from different states across the country. In the latest case of mob violence, five people were killed by villagers in Maharashtra's Dhule on Sunday, according to police. 23 people were arrested in connection with the case. The five men, belonging to a nomadic community, had gone to ask for food.
When one of them reportedly tried to speak to a child, villagers, who were around for the weekly Sunday market, suspected him to be a kidnapper and began to thrash him, they said. Soon others joined them and the five were killed in mob violence, police said.
In another case in Chennai, two men were thrashed by a group of people over rumours they were trying to kidnap a child. The police said the two men who were attacked are migrant labourers who have been working on contract with Chennai Metro. Fifteen people have been taken into custody in connection with the incident, police said.
Here are the updates over the cases of mob violence after circulation of WhatsApp rumours:
They reportedly went to a house to ask for food and one of them tried to speak to a child when all hell broke loose. Villagers in the area attending a weekly Sunday market suspected that he was a kidnapper and attacked him.
Soon a raging mob descended on five of the men, locked them in a room and hit them with bricks and stones. They didn't stop until five were lying on the ground, limp and bloodied. According to reports, two of the men managed to escape.
The men who were killed were reportedly from Solapur district of Maharashtra.
The police say rumours about a gang of child kidnappers active in the area had been circulating on social media and WhatsApp for some days.
The police said the two men who were attacked are migrant labourers who have been working on contract with Chennai Metro.
This mob attack was also because of child kidnapping rumours which had allegedly been circulating.
