Over five frantic days, Jharkhand has become a tinderbox of fear, with child theft rumors inciting mobs to assault over a dozen innocents. From beatings to lynchings, the unchecked spread of falsehoods via WhatsApp threatens public safety and the rule of law.
Ranchi’s Thursday drama unfolded in Edlhatu. Two women and a man ferried a crying child in an auto when panic erupted. ‘Kidnappers!’ echoed through the streets, summoning a violent horde that stopped the rickshaw and attacked without mercy.
Bariatu police chief Manoj Kumar’s team intervened decisively, extracting the battered trio amid the melee. Ongoing interrogations seek to unravel the truth behind the child’s presence, but no kidnapping plot has materialized.
The epidemic engulfs multiple districts: Fatal mob justice in Chatra’s Piprawar claimed a psychotic man’s life; Dhanbad’s Baghmara saw two women thrashed Wednesday; Bokaro’s six women assaulted February 16. Jamshedpur, Jamtara, Giridih, Ramgarh, Latehar, and Bokaro report parallel outrages.
Authorities implore restraint: Confirm facts, contact police—never resort to violence. This surge highlights misinformation’s destructive reach, demanding urgent measures like awareness drives and platform accountability.
Jharkhand stands at a crossroads. Will communities heed the call to rationality, or will rumors claim more victims? Police vigilance intensifies as the state battles to reclaim order from chaos.