Berhampur: A youth was critically injured after being thrashed by an angry mob over a Facebook comment at a village in Kodala area of Odisha’s Ganjam district on Thursday.
As per preliminary information, the incident took place at Kantapada village under the jurisdiction of Kodala police station in the district.
Following the attack, the injured youth was initially rushed to the local hospital and then shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur for treatment. His condition was stated to be critical.
The incident took place after the youth, identified as Ratnakar Khatua, made some comments on Facebook, which triggered outrage among villagers.
Sensing trouble, the youth alerted the police and sought their help. After getting information, a team of police personnel rushed to the village and rescued the youth. When he was being taken to the police station the mob dragged him out of the police van and thrashed him mercilessly. The youth sustained critical injuries in the attack by the mob in the presence of police personnel.
The police personnel had to request elderly people of the village to intervene and rescue Ratnakar from the mob. However, the mob went unruly and beat up Ratnakar before he was finally rescued.
Based on a complaint by the youth, police registered a case against 12 people. No one has been arrested so far in connection with the incident.