Bihar’s child abduction panic struck again in Purnia, where a distressed mother was thrashed by locals near Panchmukhi Temple. Thought to be a thief snatching kids, the woman was actually shielding her own daughter amid mental health struggles.
Eyewitnesses described the scene: a lady with a small girl acting strangely near Line Bazaar. When confronted for details, her vague replies fueled doubts. The crowd closed in, and a false cry of ‘bachcha chor’ sent them into a frenzy. Punches and shoves followed as they attempted to grab the child.
She bolted into the temple, prompting an immediate police call. Phaneshwarnath Renu TOP team intervened, extracting her safely. During escort, she resisted the patrol car, leading cops to a tea shop where her husband awaited.
Nutan Devi’s story stunned all. Educated and formerly employed as a schoolteacher, her life unraveled after her son’s untimely death. Depression gripped her, ending her career. Husband Rajesh, once in a steady job, now brews roadside chai to sustain them and cover therapy costs.
Their little girl, aged three, rarely leaves Nutan’s side—a poignant link to their past happiness. Temple visits offer her fleeting peace, but this time, paranoia turned benevolence into brutality. Rajesh laments his fate, juggling survival and support.
No real child lifters have been caught despite rampant rumors, yet violence against the vulnerable continues. This case calls for community awareness and mental health aid in rural Bihar.