Police rescued a mentally challenged woman after locals caught her on suspicion of being a child abductor in Raozan upazila of Chattogram district early yesterday.

Locals caught Raoshan Ara Begum, 40, in front of one Badal Master’s house in Ward 9 under Raozan municipality area around 12am, said Raozan Police Station Office-in-Charge (OC) Kefayet Ullah.

With this, Roazan police saved three mentally challenged women who were held by locals on suspicion of being child abductors.

The OC told The Daily Star that Raoshan is mentally challenged and has two sons who are now in Patiya Shishu Sadan, as she is incapable of taking proper care of them.

“She often flees from home located in Ward 3, and goes door to door in search of her sons. On Saturday night she again fled and went to Badal Master’s house -- asking them about her sons,” said the OC.

Residents of the house and locals later caught her on suspicion of being a child abductor and called Raozan Police Station and national emergency number 999, the OC said. Police rushed to the spot and rescued the woman, he added.

OC Kefayet said locals are now vigilant regarding the child abduction rumours and lynching due to an awareness programme in Raozan, and that is why they informed police after confining the woman.

The OC said Raoshan’s family, on information, came to the police station where she was handed over to them after verification.