Jharkhand Police Grapple with Mob Violence Over Child-Lifting Rumors
Authorities in Jharkhand's Kolhan division are confronting a disturbing surge in mob violence, with 13 separate incidents reported across ten police station areas in just 12 days. Between February 14 and 26, crowds in the adjoining districts of East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan have taken the law into their own hands, holding unknown persons hostage or physically assaulting them based on unsubstantiated suspicions of child lifting.
Recent Incidents Highlight Alarming Trend
The violence has targeted vulnerable individuals, including women and mentally unstable persons. In one particularly harrowing case, a middle-aged woman was assaulted by brick kiln workers at Kolabira village under the Gamharia police station limits in Seraikela on Wednesday. Local police intervened promptly to rescue the victim from the hostile situation.
Another incident occurred at Mahanand Basti of Dimna Chowk under the MGM police station limits, where a crowd, suspecting a woman of child lifting, allegedly held her in illegal custody and subjected her to intense questioning. Similarly, at Dokakuli village under the Kandra police station limits in Seraikela-Kharsawan, a mob assaulted a mentally unstable woman on the same suspicion. Police rescued the woman, identified as Duri, a resident of Shardabera village who often wanders publicly to escape her abusive brother.
"People should not turn violent on hearsay," emphasized Vinod Murmu, the officer-in-charge of the Kandra police station, highlighting the reckless nature of these attacks.
Police and Activists Call for Calm and Awareness
In response to the escalating violence, police across both districts have issued stern warnings to rumormongers, threatening penal action against those found guilty. Sanjiv Kumar Singh, officer-in-charge of the RIT police station, urged the public: "Call 100/112 or alert the local police if you are suspicious of anybody. Strict action will be taken if anyone resorts to assault based on suspicion."
Dhiraj Kumar, officer-in-charge of the Dhalbhumgarh police station, added that panchayat representatives have been instructed to educate villagers about the severe consequences of vigilante justice.
Human rights activists and social workers are joining the call for increased public awareness. Manoj Mishra, president of the Jharkhand Human Rights Conference (JHRC), stated: "Generating awareness among the masses and swift police action will address the burning issue of mob thrashing linked to child theft rumor. Our organization will hold awareness sessions in villages and appeal to people not to get instigated on mere hearsay."
Social worker Indrajeet Singh pointed to the role of digital media, suggesting that public awareness campaigns on social platforms and regular monitoring could help curb the spread of harmful rumors.
Additional Cases Underline Widespread Panic
The violence has not been limited to local residents. In a separate incident on February 24, six workers from a brick kiln furnace were rounded up and roughed up by villagers at Bidra village under the Patamda police station limits. The workers, natives of Chhattisgarh, were merely strolling in the village on their day off. Villagers grew suspicious because the workers were speaking a language unfamiliar to locals, as explained by Bidra panchayat deputy head Karn Mahato.
In another case, the Sonua police rescued a mentally deranged woman from a mob at Kochapur village in West Singhbhum when she was about to be thrashed on suspicion of child lifting. Shashibala Bhengra, officer-in-charge of the Sonua police station, noted that the woman was a resident of Pindrajoda police station limits in Bokaro, further illustrating how outsiders are being targeted.
As these incidents multiply, administrative officials are being urged to intensify awareness drives to sensitize the public on the issue, emphasizing the importance of relying on law enforcement rather than resorting to violence based on unfounded fears.
