Child lifting scare: Attackers, rumour mongers will face action says Police
Chennai: Following Saturday’s incident of attacks on migrant north Indian workers in the city suspecting them as child-lifters, Deputy Commissioner of Police (T. Nagar) P. Aravindan warned those who assault the victims and spread rumours with stern actions.
On Saturday night, three Bihar-based workers, Gopal Sahu, Binoth Vihari and Hari Krishna who are engaged in metro rail construction in the city were walking on Kamarajar Road in Teynampet to their room nearby. The only mistake they made was talking to a four-year-old boy who is already well acquainted with them. They were chased by few local residents and stopped them on Thiruvalluvar Road before landing heavy punches. Luckily, Hari Krishna escaped the spot but Gopal and Binoth could not.
Two of them were beaten until Teynampet police arrived to rescue them and send them to Stanley Government Hospital.
Aravindan implored mobile phone users to check and verify the authenticity of social media messages before forwarding to others. “Social media rumours are the triggering factor for such kind of attacks on the north Indians. Don’t forward messages before verifying them,” he said.
Speaking about the Saturday incident, Aravindan said that although the victims are from north India, they were residing in the locality for a long time and they just shifted room to another street in the same locality. “Videos and messages carrying rumours are being dealt with seriousness and cases and arrests were made against the person who had spread rumours in Sterlite issue,” he warned.
He also told Deccan Chronicle that the police are working in conjunction with residents’ welfare associations and traders association to create awareness in the issue. Weekly awareness campaigns are being conducted, he said.
“Public should not panic if they come across suspicious persons and they should apprehend them and hand over to the police. They should not attack them.
Forwarding fake news is a crime and the same will draw severe police action, Aravindan said.
