Woman tied to pole, beaten by mob on child-lifting suspicion in Rudrapur

Rudrapur: A woman in her late 30s, believed to be struggling with mental health issues, was allegedly tied to an electricity pole, repeatedly slapped and kicked by a mob on suspicion of child lifting in Thakur Nagar of Rudrapur on Tuesday. She was later rescued by police and let off after questioning.Police said the woman allegedly approached a group of children who were playing and asked them to accompany her. Alarmed by her behaviour, the children raised an alarm, triggering suspicion among parents and residents who feared she might be a child lifter. Within minutes, a crowd gathered, caught hold of the woman, tied her to an electricity pole and began slapping and kicking her. Eyewitnesses said the situation escalated quickly, with several local women also joining in the assault.Circle officer (city) Prashant Kumar said, "After receiving information, a police team led by SSI Mahesh Kandpal reached the spot, rescued the woman and took her to the police station for questioning. She is a resident of UP's Pilibhit district. Her photograph has been shared with the Pilibhit police to help trace her family members."Social activist Rajneesh Batra said, "The woman was assaulted by a crowd on mere suspicion. Incidents like this highlight the dangers of mob action and the challenges in ensuring the safety of vulnerable individuals."