Mob assaults mentally-ill woman on child lifting suspicion in Ariyalur

The social media posts about the child lifter alleged asked the public to stop the strangers if they were found in their locality and inform the local police station. 

On Saturday, a mentally challenged woman, around 35 years of age, was seen roaming at Kottaikadu village near Senthurai in Ariyalur district. The locals who noticed her and mistook her to be a child lifter as the social media had ‘alerted’ them that the child lifters are on different costumes.

On being chased, the woman started to run confirming the belief that she was a child lifter. She was eventually caught. When the villagers started to inquire, the woman could not respond to them as though she was not able to understand why they were chasing. When the people raised their voice, the woman only stared at them.

But the furious mob started to thrash her. The police were informed and a team led by Sub Inspector Sarath Kumar reached the spot and found out that the woman was mentally challenged. The police rescued her and sent her to a government home in Cuddalore.

Acknowledging the fact that there are rumours spread across the district, the Ariyalur police informed the public that they should alert the special branch over phone (04329-222106) regarding any case child-lifting and locate any strangers in their locality.