Four policemen in Tripura were suspended on Wednesday after a man hired by the state government to spread awareness against rumour-mongering was lynched on June 28, PTI reported.
Inspector General of Police KV Sreejesh said an assistant sub-inspector, a constable, and two Tripura State Rifles personnel were suspended.
“We have suspended them because a departmental inquiry has been initiated against them in connection with their roles in the matter,” Sreejesh said, adding that the inquiry will find out if there were lapses on the part of the policemen.
A mob lynched Sukanta Chakraborty, a member of a team deployed by the state information and culture affairs department to campaign against rumour-mongering, at Kalachhara in South Tripura district. They suspected him to be a child lifter. Sreejesh said the police had arrested 14 people so far in the case so far, and may arrest more.
In separate incidents, a mob lynched a man, Jahir Khan, on June 28 and an unidentified woman on June 29. After the incidents, Tripura Director General of Police AK Shukla suspended messaging and mobile internet services in the state for the next 24 hours to prevent rumour-mongering.
Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb had appealed to people to not indulge in spreading rumours and fake news.
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