Two suspected child abductors beaten up

Police rescued a father and a mentally-challenged beggar from mob beatings in two separate suspected child abduction incidents in the port city on Friday.

Sukanta Chakraborty, officer-in-charge (OC) of Bandar Police Station, said Rashedul Alam of Raozan upazila was returning from Chattogram airport with his son and six nephews in a CNG-run auto-rickshaw.

When the driver stopped and asked for directions in Saltgola Crossing area, locals gathered and suspected Rashedul of being an abductor, seeing all the children. The mob then pulled him out and beat him up, said the officer.

On information, police rushed to the spot and rescued him. He was later given primary treatment at a local hospital.

Meanwhile, in Enayet Bazar area, an 11-year-old complained that Mohibul Alam -- a beggar hailing from Hatiya upazila -- might be an abductor, after seeing him in front of their house, said Md Kamruzzaman, inspector (investigation) of Kotwali Police Station.

The child’s father along with other locals then detained Mohibul and upon hearing his incoherent speaking, accused him of being an abductor and beat him up, said the officer.

On information from locals, police rescued and took him to Chattogram Medical College Hospital where doctors said he was mentally-challenged.