Duo suspected to be child-lifters thrashed by residents in Salem

According to police, Jayavel (35) was waiting at a bus stop with his 10- year-old daughter, when two persons including a woman came near them.

“The woman suddenly pulled the girl. A shocked Jayavel then raised an alarm, following which villagers gathered in large numbers. They caught hold of the duo suspecting them to be child-lifters,” police said.

As both the strangers didn’t answer questions raised by villagers, they were thrashed by the agitated crowd. On receiving information, the Kengavalli police rushed to the spot and took the two persons into their custody.

Finding them be injured, police first sent them to the Attur Government Hospital. The woman was later transferred to Salem Government Hospital for further treatment.

Police later identified the man as Manjunath (34) of Bangalore through an ID card kept in his bag, while the identity of the woman is yet unknown. Police suspect they both could be mentally disturbed.

Meanwhile, based on a complaint lodged by Village Administrative Officer (VAO) Ashok Kumar that two unidentified persons were assaulted on suspicion of them being child-lifters, the Kengavalli police registered a case on a group of persons. No arrests have been made so far. Further inquiries are on.