Lynching upsurge: At least 18 people killed in 8 states since May 23

From Tripura to Telangana, several states across the country witnessed mob attacks in the last few months over one reason or the other

Current Affairs News: The incidents of mob lynching have become rampant across the country in the past few months, with most attacks happening over 'child-lifting' rumours.

According to a Hindustan Times report, since May 20, 14 people have been killed in the country due to several fake media videos and messages containing similar themes of outsiders stealing children.

The latest incident of mob violence occurred in Maharashtra's Dhule district on Sunday. Five men were lynched by a mob over suspicion that they were part of a gang of "child lifters".

The lynching of two men in Assam over the similar rumour had rocked the state, prompting Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to personally monitor the progress of the investigation.

In the aftermath of the incident, social organisations, media houses and student communities joined hands in the state to create awareness on the responsible use of networking websites.

Lynching incidents across the country in recent times:

Maharashtra

On Sunday, five people were lynched by a mob in Dhule district over suspicion that they were part of a gang of 'child lifters'.

The incident, according to police, happened when the five of them arrived in the tribal-dominated Rainpada hamlet and apparently tried to speak to a girl child.

" When one of them apparently tried to speak to a girl child, the villagers, who had gathered for the weekly Sunday market, pounced on them," the police said.

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