North Garo Hills police yesterday rescued three scrap dealers after they were allegedly beaten up by villagers over a misunderstanding. The villagers had mistaken the trio as child kidnappers, leading to them being assaulted.
The incident took place yesterday at about 12:30pm in the village of New Mendal under Bajengdoba PS limits.
According to police, the three, identified as Riyaj Ali (24) of Asudubi Betbari, Krishnai, Yakub Ali (22) and Nojot Ali (38) both of Bidarpara, Krishnai, had gone to the village in a vehicle (AS 18AC 0982) to collect scraps and used bottles.
Their vehicle was parked near the village when one five-year-old boy of the same village boarded the cabin of the vehicle.
“The driver of the vehicle, Riyaj Ali found him inside and tried to get him out from the vehicle asking him to go home. However, the child refused and cried attracting the attention of his elder, 12-year-old, brother, who was nearby. Thinking that his brother was being kidnapped, he raised a hue and cry and ran and reported the matter to his father,” informed Superintendent of Police Abraham T Sangma.
The villagers then immediately surrounded the trio and began to assault them thinking they were child lifters. Fearing for their lives, the three ran for their lives but were chased by the public. They were once again caught by the villagers at Chisim Apal and were once again assaulted leading to them receiving serious injuries.
Upon being informed on the matter, a police team from the Rari OGC rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. The traders were then sent to Rari OGC for first aid before submitting an FIR in the same place in the incident. An investigation is currently underway.
