A woman, suspected to be a child-lifter, was lynched to death by an angry crowd at Garo- badha in East Garo Hills district on April 3.
The woman who had come for marketing on the market day was encircled by the crowd, and unleashed a mass assault. The police rescued the woman and despatched her to Tura civil hospital where she succumbed to the injuries.
The Deputy Commissioer of East Garo Hills, Mr G.N. Bhattacharjee told this reporter on phone that one person had been arrested on the spot and a case was registered against him.
A strong rumour of child-lifting has been sweeping through the Garo Hills for the past few days. Apparently, rumour has been spread that a group of child-lifter was operating in the Garo Hills to smuggle children for sacrificing them for the smooth construction of the second bridge over Brahmaputra at Pancharatna now under progress. The gullible sections have been impressed that offer of human blood is necessary for propitiating the god before bridges are constructed.