People manhandle woman suspected to be child lifter in Belagavi

People took a woman and her child to the police station, suspecting her to be a kidnapper in Belagavi on Saturday.

Someone saw a burkha-clad woman running with a crying child in her arms at New Gandhi Nagar Cross. Soon, a crowd gathered around her and questioned her. Some alleged that she was trying to put a child in a gunny bag, but the woman denied it. She said she was a beggar and was running to catch a bus but the people were not convinced.

They slapped the woman, accusing her of child theft. Inspector B.R. Gaddekar who came to the spot inquired the woman and found that her story was genuine. He told the crowd to intimate the police in case of any suspicion of child theft and not to take the law in their own hands.

Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Borase Bhushan Gulabrao has issued a clarification, saying, “For last two weeks, an audio clip has been in circulation about some kidnappers were operating. We have verified the clip and found that it was not from our city. But it has been widely circulated. Because of which, the public suspected the woman to be child lifter and assaulted her at New Gandhi Nagar Cross,” said Mr. Gulabrao.

We request citizens not to blindly trust any WhatsApp forwards and not to spread rumours, the Commissioner said, adding that in case of any suspicious activities, the public can contact 112.