A 45-year-old man with mental disabilities, hailing from West Bengal, fell victim to a violent assault by a mob in Tamil Nadu's Vellore on Tuesday, under the false assumption that he was a kidnapper. This disturbing incident marks the third occurrence of its kind within the past 15 days.
Subsequently, the mob surrendered the man, identified as Vishnath Ghosh, to the local authorities. An investigation by the police uncovered that the attack stemmed from a fabricated WhatsApp message circulating in the area, falsely alleging incidents of kidnapping. Vishnath, being mentally challenged, was found wandering the streets, further exacerbating the misunderstanding, according to police sources.
Authorities promptly issued a stern warning against individuals involved in disseminating such deceitful messages, recognizing the grave consequences they entail, including widespread panic and unjust violence.
In a similar episode on February 22, a transgender individual employed at a reputable IT firm endured a brutal assault in Chennai. Mistakenly identified as a kidnapper due to unfounded social media rumors, she was subjected to severe beatings, partial disrobing, and being restrained to a lamppost by an enraged mob.
Likewise, on March 2, a migrant laborer faced a vicious attack in the Thiruvallur district, as villagers, misled by comparable social media hoaxes, falsely believed him to be a kidnapper. These incidents underscore the alarming repercussions of misinformation and highlight the urgent need for vigilance against the spread of false rumors and vigilantism in society.
