Child-Lifting Racket Rumour: Odisha Police Issues 7-Point Advisory

Bhubaneswar: Concerned over the assault on innocent persons in some parts of Odisha on the suspicion of being child lifters, the Director General of Police (DGP) RP Sharma on Tuesday issued a 7-point advisory to make them aware of the ground reality.

The seven-point advisory is as follows:

It is now seen that some people with an intention to create panic in the society, are trying to spread rumour about the child-lifting racket being active in Odisha which is absolutely baseless and false. As the head of the state police administration, I assure you that no such incident has occurred in any part of the state till date.

Never post such message on the social media (like WhatsApp and Facebook) and become a part of the crime for posting such rumours, which is punishable under the law.

Like the students and the people of our state, who are pursuing higher studies and earning their livelihood in the neighbouring states, the students and the people of the neighbouring states have also come to our state for the same purpose. Since they do not understand our language, it is wrong to presume them as child lifters.

That the claim of these rumour-mongers that the rackets after killing the children take away their kidney, heart and eyes, is just impossible. The fact is that these organs will be of no use if they are not taken out from the body without specific instructions of the doctors.

If any person having no knowledge of Odia is found moving suspiciously, kindly inform the local police station or the SP of the district concerned.

Senior police officers in all the districts of the state have been asked to make frequent tour and keep a close watch on suspicious elements and take legal actions against them, if necessary. On the other hand, if any incident of thrashing of innocent people comes to their notice, stringent action will be initiated.

Don’t take law into your own hands since the police and the court are empowered to take legal action.