Police have arrested 72 persons in connection with the alleged assault on two West Bengal officials who mistakenly entered Odisha’s Balasore district while on duty. The officials, deployed for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, were reportedly travelling towards Nayagram when local residents grew suspicious and accused them of being child kidnappers. The two were allegedly manhandled and confined by a mob. Police personnel who arrived to rescue them also faced resistance. Two separate cases have been registered. Balasore Additional SP Niranjan Behera urged citizens to verify suspicions with police and dial 112 instead of acting on rumours.
Mob Mistakes SIR Officials for Child Kidnappers, 72 Held in Odisha
