In a shocking incident of mob violence triggered by rumours spread on social media platforms, a 40-year-old beggar woman was hacked to death in Ahmedabad by a mob which mistook her as a member of child-lifting gang.
The victim was identified as Shantiben Marwadi, who was declared dead by Ahmedabad civil hospital where she was rushed in after being mercilessly thrashed by a mob in Vadaj area of the city.
Three other women beggars were also thrashed by the mob that turned violent as the four women were found begging the city amidst rumours that a gang of women involved in child lifting is roaming around in the city.
All the four women came to Ahmedabad for begging from neighbouring Rajasthan. They stayed in hutments in the outskirts of the city.
Startled by the incident, Ahmedabad police issued an advisory asking people not to believe in social media messages and videos on child-lifting gang roaming in the city. The police also warned those spreading rumours on Whatsapp, Facebook and other platforms to incite people.
Similar incidents of people being thrashed over social media rumours were earlier reported from several states including Tamil Nadu, Assam, Odisha, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
