Twenty Arrested After False Kidnapping Claims Led to Violence Against NGO Interns
False rumors spark mob attack on NGO workers in Rayagada.
A 22-year-old woman interning with a leading non-governmental organisation (NGO) was allegedly molested and assaulted by a mob in Odisha's Rayagada district after rumours of child kidnapping spread through the area. Her 22-year-old male colleague was also beaten during the incident, which police described as a case of misinformation triggering mob violence.
According to police, the incident took place on the evening of June 16 but came to light only after authorities arrested at least 20 people, including several juveniles, on Saturday. The victims, a woman from Delhi and a man from Surat, had been working with the NGO under a prestigious fellowship programme in tribal regions since September last year.
Police said rumours related to child kidnapping spiralled out of control, leading dozens of villagers to target the two interns. Even after officers reached the spot and, with the help of local residents, attempted to rescue them, the crowd allegedly turned violent and continued the assault. Authorities are investigating the sequence of events and the role of those involved in spreading the rumours.
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The arrested individuals are facing legal action, while police continue to identify others allegedly involved in the attack. The inclusion of several juveniles among those detained highlights the widespread nature of the mob violence and the challenges posed by misinformation in rural communities.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the dangers of vigilante action fuelled by unverified rumours. Similar cases linked to false child kidnapping claims have been reported in different parts of the country in recent years, prompting repeated appeals from law enforcement agencies for people to verify information and avoid taking the law into their own hands.
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