India mob lynches young woman on rumors of child-lifting

Police say a young woman has been lynched in central India on rumors that she was part of a child-lifting gang, days after the country’s highest court called for immediate steps to stem deadly mob violence across the country.

Police said Monday that at least 14 people have been arrested in Madhya Pradesh state’s Singrauli district following the killing of the woman, who was around 25.

India has a long history of mob violence, but in recent years, the internet and smartphones have aided the circulation of rumors through social media to even remote places, often leading to deadly violence.

At least 25 people have been lynched and dozens wounded in mob attacks in last three months in India.