Alert Assam Rifles rescue three ‘Sadhus’ in Dima Hasao, Assam

An unruly situation erupted at Mahur in Dima Hasao district on Thursday over appearance of three sadhus, who were suspected by the locals as ‘child lifters’ in the area.
According to information, on Thursday, the three ascetics, wearing red clothes, who came in a car having Uttar Pradesh registration number (UP-16B-7582), were moving in the Mahur area. The movements of the sadhus came under suspicion of the local. Though some of the locals started attacking the sadhus, smelling danger, a section of conscious people of the area informed it to the police and the Army.

However, the locals after search recovered some suspicious items including an LPG cylinder, some packets and spray from the Maruti car. While the locals suspected that the three sadhus were child lifters, but the police administration claimed that they were pilgrims.

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The Assistant Commissioner of Dima Hasao district, Rahul Doley, reached the spot to take stock of the situation. As stated by Doley, the three sadhus have come in a long journey from Uttar Pradesh.
District officials said army men posted at an adjacent camp and police officers came to the rescue of three persons on Thursday after hundreds of people had gathered to attack them in the wake of rumours of child-lifting.

The belongings of the sadhus were thrown open by the mob, videographed and shared on social media, further fuelling the hearsays, the officials said.

Following the incident, the district administration, under the chairmanship of deputy commissioner Amitabh Rajkhowa and superintendent of police Prasanta Saikia, called for an emergency meeting on Thursday.
The sadhus had attended the recently-concluded annual Ambubachi Mela at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati and then visited Parashuram Kund in Arunachal Pradesh before planning the trip to Tripura.

“Since the road from Dima Hasao to Silchar (and Agartala) has been closed due to inclement weather, the sadhus were on their return journey to Guwahati when they stopped at the Mahur railway station for refreshment,” Saikia added.
A mob of nearly 500 people gathered but were stopped by army personnel whose camp is adjacent to the railway station.
“The army took the men into the camp for their safety. Now the sadhus are on their way back (to Guwahati),” Saikia added.

Representatives of different communities who attended the meeting, appealed to the public, especially the people of Dima Hasao, to act responsibly and not be swayed away by rumours on social media.

They also urged the people to not take law into their own hands, and instead, report to the authorities about any suspicious movement of any person.

In a Maruti 800 car, the three sadhus wrapped up their visit to Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati and then Parashuram Kund, 25 km from Tezu in Arunachal Pradesh and reached Mahur in Dima Hasao district with a view to go to Tripura.
But on the way towards Agartala, the three sadhus came under attack of locals, however, for timely arrival of police and Army personnel at the spot, the situation could not take worst turn and the sadhus were safely rescued.