Bokaro: The Bokaro administration on Saturday said it has identified over 300 social media accounts for allegedly spreading child-lifting rumours and triggering mob attacks on different people and groups in the past few days.DC Ajay Nath Jha said, “Our investigation has found that misleading messages and videos were being circulated in a planned manner to create panic. Strict legal action is being initiated against those involved. The police were directed to identify rumour-mongers and strengthen surveillance.”
Jha urged residents not to believe or forward unverified content and to report suspicious activities on the toll-free number 112.Bokaro SP Harvinder Singh reiterated that citizens must inform the police or dial 112 instead of taking the law into their hands.On Friday, Manisha Devi (27), who works as a door-to-door sales executive was mistaken for a child-lifter by locals at Bishanpur under the Balidih police station. Residents caught hold of her. However, some locals intervened and shifted her to a room inside the panchayat building, locking it from outside to shield her from the swelling crowd while the police were informed.Hours later, five sadhus travelling in a four-wheeler were assaulted by locals on suspicion of being child-lifters at Banshidih under the Chas police station. Suspicion grew after they were seen speaking to children, and an alleged irregularity in the vehicle number plate.In the past four days, around six similar cases were reported from the district.
