MAHA KINGPIN ARRESTED

Dhule, July 5: The police has arrested the main accused in the case of lynching of five men by a mob in district on suspicion of child-lifting, an official said on Thursday. Maharu Pawar, 22, was arrested from the neighbouring Nandurbar district, Dhule superintendent of police M. Ramkumar said. He was absconding since the incident took place on Sunday.

Dhule (Maha), July 5: The main accused in the lynching of five men on suspicion of child lifting has been arrested, police here said on Thursday.

Maharu Pawar, 22, was arrested from the neighbouring Nandurbar district yesterday, Dhule superintendent of police M. Ramkumar said.

Pawar was absconding since the incident took place on Sunday and hiding in Nandurbar, he said.

“Our team was searching for him and was able to nab him,” he said.

In a video of the incident that went viral on social media, Pawar was purportedly seen leading the mob while thrashing the five men with sticks and rods, Ramkumar said.

Pawar is the 24th person arrested in the case, the SP said, adding that a search was on for some more accused.

On July 1, five men of a nomadic tribe were lynched by a mob in Dhule's Rainpada village on the suspicion of being child-lifters, sending shock waves through the state.

According to videos which went viral, one of the five victims apparently tried to speak to a sixyear-old girl after which they were pounced upon, stoned and thrashed with sticks and chappals.

The provocation was apparently some rumours on social media which suggested that a gang of child-lifters was active in the area.

According to police officials and locals, the victims were first attacked by a group of “highly inebriated” people in Kakar pada village.