25 year old lynched over child lifting rumours

A migrant worker from Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur district, who was allegedly lynched by a mob on February 3 on a rumour of being a child lifter, died at Sawai Man Singh hospital in Jaipur on Wednesday.

According to the police, 25-year-old, Mohammad Faisal Siddique, a resident of Sujatganj district in Kanpur, was taking his friend Aslam Ansari’s two-year-old daughter to market to buy her chocolates. It was then when some people suspected that he had abducted the girl child.

On social media, a video went viral that showed Siddique tied up to an electric pole and being beaten up mercilessly by a mob of around 50 people. There were voices heard from mob saying that child lifter should be killed. Battling for his life for 16 days, 25-year-old migrant worker succumbed to his injuries.

Sub-inspector Mukut Bihari of Vishwakarma police station said that a case was registered under IPC Section 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide). “We have arrested two people in connection with the matter – Nishant Modi and Mahendra. Mahendra has a prior criminal record,” sub inspector said. A senior police office confirmed that they will add murder charges to the existing FIR.

Faisal was living in a rented accommodation in Vishwakarma Industrial Area in Jaipur and worked as a slipper contractor. Aslam Ansari said that his daughter was fond of Faisal as he used to buy chocolates and biscuits for her. At 11 am in the morning I was told by someone that my daughter was found abandoned near Gautam Vihar road. I rushed to the spot and found that my daughter was standing alone, and Siddiqui was being beaten up by the mob. I immediately called the police and Faisal was taken to the hospital.

According to news reports, an FIR was registered against Siddiqui for assault and an intent to outrage of modesty by a woman. The woman was allegedly among those who have accused Faisal of abducting the girl child on February 3. She told the police that she suspected Faisal of molesting 2-year-old child.

Meanwhile, Siddique’s younger brother, Mohammad Saif alleged that the doctor of the hospital was trying to discharge the victim even though he was critical. Sawai Man Singh’s Hospital authorities denied the accusations.