Delhi woman mistaken for child-lifter, stripped

KORAPUT: Odisha Police Thursday arrested 16 people who were part of a mob that chased and assaulted a woman from Delhi and her male colleague from Gujarat, mistaking them for child kidnappers, in a remote village in Rayagada district on June 16. The accused also half-stripped the woman.The two work with voluntary organisations under fellowship programmes. While the woman is engaged in solid waste management initiatives in Kalahandi district, the man from Surat is associated with a turmeric packaging project in Kandhamal district.According to police, they were travelling from Daringbadi in Kandhamal to Thuamul Rampur in Kalahandi district on a scooter. They stopped near Kandulguda village to seek directions.As the two interacted with a group of children and gave them chocolates, it aroused the suspicion of some villagers, who quickly spread a rumour that the outsiders were child-lifters. The two development workers alleged they were attacked despite repeatedly showing their identity cards and explaining the purpose of their visit.Police have registered four cases, with preliminary investigations suggesting 40 to 50 could be involved in the attack. Rayagada SP Raj Prasad said, “Kalyansinghpur police rescued the two victims and arrested 16 persons based on CCTV footage. We are verifying videos recorded by people at the spot.”