Lucknow. The Uttar Pradesh government has taken serious note of the increasing incidents of frenzied violence by spreading child theft rumours. Action will be taken under the National Security Act (NSA) against such chaotic elements that disturb the atmosphere. Instructions have been given in this regard to the district police officers of all the districts.
DGP DS Chauhan has issued strict instructions to prevent such incidents. In all the districts, gazetted officers have been directed to investigate on the spot on any information of child theft. Along with this, strict action has also been directed against those who spread misleading messages regarding this on the Internet media. Instructions have also been given to make people aware to avoid rumours.
ADG Law and Order Prashant Kumar says that action will be ensured under the National Security Act (Rasuka) against the chaotic elements, who are spreading violence and spoiling the atmosphere by spreading rumors of child theft. The police officers of the districts have been asked to identify the accused on any such incident and take action under Rasuka in coordination with the District Magistrate.
Prashant Kumar said that instructions have been given that action should be taken with full sensitivity on the information of any incident of child theft. In view of the incidents of violence on suspicion of child theft in Lucknow, Kaushambi, Sitapur and Bijnor, instructions have been given to exercise full vigilance, especially in rural areas. It has also been said that if the information about the child being abducted or missing is true, then by registering an FIR, full readiness should be taken for the recovery of the child.
Such rumors are spreading more in rural areas. Therefore, along with taking extra vigil with the help of village guards and intelligence, the villagers should also be made aware. Apart from this, along with gathering details of cases of violence committed by hysterical mobs and spreading rumors of child theft during the last five years, police pickets were directed to be deployed at the places of such incidents.
Instructions have also been given to conduct checking at such identified places under the supervision of senior officers. On the information of such incidents, UP 112 has also been instructed to increase patrolling by reaching the spot immediately and taking action. The ADG says that if any mentally deranged person is found somewhere in the deserted area, instructions have also been given to take him to a safe place.