COIMBATORE: A 21-year-old man was lucky to escape uninjured after
visitors and staff at the Coimbatore government medical college and hospital mistook him for
child lifter and
thrashed him, here on Wednesday.
Karthik, a resident of Ondipudur, was roaming around the hospital premises with five others when the mob attacked him, mistaking him for a child lifter.
He was believed to have fallen victim to the attack after hospital authorities stepped up vigil following rumours on social media that child lifters are targeting the hospital. The authorities had restricted entry to the neonatal ward, allowing visitors after thorough inspection.
Karthik and five others are said to have started running after the hospital staff questioned them. Karthik, however, was caught and grilled by the hospital staff.
After he gave disjointed answers that raised suspicion about his motives among the workers, tens of public and co-workers gathered and beat him up, said hospital staffer Geetha. He did not suffer any injuries in the attack, but his clothes were torn, she added. He was later handed over to the Race course police station.
Police inquiry revealed that Karthik, a native of
Madurai, working at a departmental store in the city. Three days ago, he had quit the job and was wandering about the city aimlessly and that is how he had entered the hospital premises, an officer privy to the case said. Police said the hospital workers had mistaken him for a child lifter as he failed to give a proper reason for his presence at the hospital. He was later handed over to the workers at the departmental store.
Representative image 
