Rumours about child lifters abound on social media, police call for restraint

DHARWARD, BELAGAVI, MYSURU: With rumours about child lifters on the prowl flying thick and fast in some parts of the state, the police have appealed to people not to take the law into their hands, and to contact the police if any suspicious individuals are spotted.

Some parents chose to take their wards back home.

Dharwad SP Lokesh said videos of another country are being circulated on social media and rumours are being spread that kidnapper sare on the prowl. The police will take action against those spreading fake news. In case people come across suspicious individuals, they should call 112 and the local police will make inquires. Citizens should not take law into their hands and assault anyone, he warned.

Belagavi SP Dr Sanjeev Patil too said rumours about children being kidnapped and their body parts being sold are doing the rounds. But he stressed that no such incident had occurred in the district and added that people should not fall for such fake news. In case suspicious individuals are spotted, people should call the emergency helpline 112, he noted.

Belagavi SP Dr Sanjeev Patil.

Explaining about certain instances, the SP said some people selling blankets were caught by locals in Nandgad on the suspicion of being child lifters. In another instance, a mentally unstable man was presumed to be a kidnapper. After it was found that he was mentally ill, he was reunited with his family. In Kaujalagi village, some sadhus who had come from Uttar Pradesh were accused of being child lifters, the officer added.

Some nomadic ragpickers were questioned by the Mysuru district police at Kurihundi village.

The Mysuru district police too have warned of action against those who take the law into their own hands. People should call 112 in case of suspicious circumstances, they added.

On Tuesday, villagers of Kurihundi had accused some nomads of being child lifters. The police reached the spot and upon inquiry, found out that they were just ragpickers.