Techie lynched over suspicion of being child lifter after he distributed chocolates to village kids

In yet another case of mob lynching, a Google techie was lynched and his two friends were severely injured on the suspicion of being child lifters in Karnataka’s Bidar district. The incident happened late on Friday night.

Police have identified the deceased as Mohammad Azam, a resident of Hyderabad who was travelling to Bidar along with his two friends Talha Ismail and Mohammed Salman to visit their friend Mohammed Bashir- a local of Handikera Village.

According to a report in Hindustan Times, the youths on reaching Handikera village, stopped at a shop and distributed chocolates to some children. The locals objected to it.

It was here when a local clicked their picture of distributing chocolates to children and circulated the same on WhatsApp. According to news reports as this picture went viral, the locals mistook them as child lifters. The unruly mob then assaulted them without giving them a chance to explain.

While being physically assaulted, Bashir and his friends somehow managed to escape in the car. This was an attempt made by them to save their lives. But to prevent them from escaping, locals of Murki village placed wooden logs on the road and blocked their way. The locals of Hanikera village had reportedly apprised villagers of Murki asking them to stop the youths from escaping.

The Pioneer reported that, as the car approached Murki, it hit the blockade and skidded, after which a angry mob dragged Azam and hit him with stones and sticks. “Three policemen rushed to the spot to contain the mob. However, Azam, who was hit on his head, died on the spot. Police rescued others and admitted them to a hospital in Bidar”, reported The Pioneer.

Hindustan Times quoted Superintendent of police D Devraj as saying that the incident was sparked by a WhatsApp message circulated in a group. “The person who circulated the message, Amar Patil, and the administrator of the group, Manoj Biradar have been arrested,” he said. “Thirty others involved in the violence have also been arrested”, he added.

Updated on: July 15, 2018 at 12:57 IST

By EP Web Desk