Elderly man tied and thrashed by mob over child-lifting rumours

Indore: Days after a mentally unstable woman from Meerut was assaulted in Indore over child-lifting rumours, a similar incident has emerged from Mandsaur. An unidentified elderly man was tied up and beaten by a mob in the Narsinghpur area on Sunday evening on suspicion of being a child lifter.Mandsaur ASP TS Baghel said, "The elderly man was rescued and brought to the police station where it was found that he had no criminal antecedents and was not a child lifter. He may have been mentally unstable. He was allowed to leave."When asked whether a case would be registered against those involved in the assault, Baghel said police were "looking into it".According to police, the man was seen moving around the locality when some residents grew suspicious and labelled him a child lifter. Within minutes, a large crowd gathered and began thrashing him without verifying the claim. Videos circulating later showed the man lying on the ground as people kicked and punched him, his hands and legs tied with ropes, while the crowd swelled to hundreds.Police from Kotwali Police Station reached the spot after receiving information and rescued the man. At the station, he reportedly gave incoherent answers and displayed unusual behaviour. Officials confirmed that no complaint of child theft had been received.After a preliminary inquiry found no evidence of wrongdoing, the man was released. Despite video evidence of the assault, no legal action has yet been initiated against those involved.