Kolkata: Mob assaults youth for being ‘child-lifter’

Kolkata: A youth was beaten up on the suspicion of being a child-lifter late on Friday night at Kankurgachhi in Phoolbagan despite chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s warning of strong action against rumour mongering.

Seventeen persons were arrested by the police. The youth who was injured has been admitted to a hospital.

The incident took place around midnight when a gang of 20 men attacked the youth walking on the road. Overpowering him, they thrashed him before tying him with a lamp post. When a police team rushed to the spot to rescue, the gang-members tried to resist the cops also.

A police officer was also heckled when he tried to rescue the youth late Friday evening. After being informed, personnel from Phoolbagan police station reached Dom Para locality and rescued the victim.

Locals alleged that the youth was roaming in the area wearing a burqa and was “trying” to lift children from behind a shopping mall.

Ms Banerjee had alleged on Friday that attempts were being made to disturb peace in West Bengal, with “burqa-clad men” being sent to streets to create panic amid rumours of child lifting.

“We are investigating the matter. We are trying to collect CCTV footages recorded by cameras installed at the shopping mall,” a senior officer of Kolkata Police said.

“The youth is a resident of Narkeldanga area. Rumours were being spread that the youth was beaten to death, but it is  false. He is undergoing treatment and is stable,” the officer said.

New police commissioner Anuj Sharma held a meeting at police training school during the day. He reviewed the law and order situation and crime incidents in the city while instructing ranks to handle any untoward incident with an iron hand.