Child lifting rumours ignite mob attack in Cachar

A CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: Rumour mills are running overtime in Barak Valley for the last couple of weeks as locals, particularly in the rural or suburbs venture in nabbing 'khuchidhora', a colloquial term for 'child lifters'. According to official report, at least four persons in Cachar district were hospitalized after a mob attack as they fell prey to 'Khuchidhora' phobia. However till now no case of child lifting had been registered with the police, though the rumours began to spread like wildfire.

On Tuesday evening, Deputy Commissioner Rohan Kumar Jha and SP Numol Mahatto in a joint meeting clarified doubts about 'khuchidhora' rumour. Addressing the media, Mahatto said, so far there had been no case of child lifting in Cachar. "All these are just rumours spread by some unruly public and innocent people are becoming victims. Baseless reports in social media make the things worse," Mahatto added.

SP said, people were taking the matter in their hands without verifying the facts. So far two men and two women were victims of such rumours. In Lakhipur Tea Estate two men were beaten mercilessly as the locals suspected them as child lifters. Later police came to their rescue. They were admitted in hospital but none of them were in a condition to speak, and hence police could not find out their actual identities or whereabouts. Another mentally challenged female beggar was similarly beaten by public in Pailapool area of Lakhipur and the incident was broadcast live on Facebook.

DC Jha said, the most disturbing part was that the misinformation was spread in the social media which makes the monitoring by the administration more difficult. Further as there had been no case registered so far, administration or police could not take legal action. However police was keeping a close eye on the social media, Jha hinted.

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