Video Editor: Sandeep Suman
Around 20 people were detained after they thrashed a beggar to death on Sunday night, 20 May, in Visakhapatnam, Telangana Today reported. The mob went on a rampage after hearing rumours of a gang posing as beggars and indulging in child lifting, the report added. Five were seriously injured in the assault, ANI reported.
After parents and relatives were denied permission to see those detained, protests erupted in front of the police station, the Telangana Today report added. With the help of former MLA SA Rahman, the detainees’ kin were allowed to see them.
Refuting the rumours of child kidnapping gangs in Vizag, the Police Commissioner of Vizag City said that false information was being circulated on Whatsapp.
False info circulated on WhatsApp about child kidnapping gangs in Vizag and nearby cities. Believing this info, people are assaulting those found suspicious. Appeal to people to not take law into their hands.City Police commissioner, Vizag to ANI
According to the Telangana Today report, the commissioner urged them to bring to the notice of the police any incident of strangers moving around suspiciously so that could prompt action could be taken.
(With inputs from ANI, Telangana Today.)
(The Quint is now on WhatsApp. To receive handpicked stories on topics you care about, subscribe to our WhatsApp services. Just go to TheQuint.com/WhatsApp and hit Send).
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)