Bihar man assaulted in Bengal’s Malda on suspicion of being child lifter

india

Updated: Jun 22, 2018 21:11 IST

A 22-year-old man hailing from Bihar was assaulted in West Bengal’s Malda district on Friday on suspicion of trying to kidnap a four-year-old girl.

Aijul Sheikh, a resident of Purnea in Bihar, was mercilessly beaten up by a mob in Jhaljhalia Railway Colony of Englishbazar until police rescued him and admitted him to Malda Medical College and Hospital (MMCH) with critical injuries.

Apparently, the girl’s mother had heard her scream and saw Sheikh running away. “My daughter was watching TV in the bedroom and I was in the kitchen. Suddenly I heard my daughter’s scream. I rushed to the bedroom and saw a youth running away.”

She raised an alarm, responding to which a mob caught him and started beating him up.

Residents of the colony told police Sheikh was caught “red handed” while he was trying to escape with the girl.

A police officer, who did not wish to be named, said Sheikh was not in a condition to talk. “We have no idea why he came to Malda and why he entered the house.”

Sheikh is the seventh victim of mob violence in reaction to rumours of child lifting in the last 30 days.

Incidentally, no child has so far been found missing from any neighbourhood or recovered from the custody of those facing mob fury.

On June 13, a mob even lynched a mentally challenged person in the Bulbulchandi area of Malda.

On June 22, a youth was accused of being a child lifter and beaten up in the Aurobindo Park area of Englishbazar municipality.