Bhatkal Police warns social media users against forwarding fake messages after residents manhandle two beggars assuming them to be child abductors
11:39AM Wed 6 Jun, 2018
Bhatkal 06 June 2018: (Bhatkallys News Bureau) Bhatkal town police on Tuesday issued a warning to the locals against forwarding and sharing fake messages and rumors on social media platforms especially on WhatsApp claiming the gangs of kidnappers doing the rounds in the town.
The warning comes in the wake of a forward message that is being widely shared on the social media by users claiming 'a gang of child abductors has arrived in the town' following which homeless and innocent people mostly beggars were lynched by mobs in different parts of the country, including in cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
A similar incident was reported in Bhatkal on Monday when two men who had allegedly forged their attire and identities to look like Muslim beggars were manhandled by the residents after they mistook them to be child abductors.
Both of them (Hindus) were dressed up as Muslims to beg in the Muslim dominated localities of the town during the holy month of Ramadan, the residents mistook them to be kidnappers and manhandled them before handing them over to the police.
The police in the warning, also requested the social media users to be careful of what they read and share as their actions can disturb peace and harmony in the region.
The letter further warned the users that cases will be filed against those forwarding such messages under the Information Technology Act.
Bhatkallys.com requests its readers to understand the seriousness and urges you to directly get in touch with nearest local police station to report any suspicious activity.
(Bhatkallys News Bureau/ Rizwan Gangavali/ Fristen Dias)
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