Cuttack, Aug. 4 (UDN): A youth accused of attempting to steal goats was allegedly assaulted by a mob after being caught by villagers in Botalama village under the Banki police station limits in Odisha’s Cuttack district on Tuesday.
According to local sources, the incident took place in the early hours of the morning when the youth allegedly entered the goat shed of a resident, Gundicha Dalei, with the intention of stealing livestock.
The alleged theft attempt came to light after Dalei’s wife reportedly noticed the intruder inside the shed and immediately raised an alarm. Hearing her cries for help, villagers rushed to the spot, apprehended the youth and allegedly tied him to an electric pole before assaulting him.
Eyewitnesses said the villagers, angered by the alleged theft, took the law into their own hands before informing the police.
On receiving information, personnel from Banki Police Station reached the village, rescued the youth from the mob and took him into custody for questioning. His condition was not immediately known.
Police have launched an investigation into the alleged goat theft attempt as well as the assault on the accused by local residents. Officials said appropriate legal action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.
The incident adds to a series of recent cases of mob violence in the state, prompting concerns over people resorting to vigilantism instead of allowing law enforcement agencies to handle criminal allegations. Authorities have reiterated that taking the law into one’s own hands is a punishable offence and appealed to the public to report crimes to the police rather than resorting to violence.
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