Kendrapara, Nov 11 (PTI) A couple from Madhya Pradesh was allegedly assaulted by a mob on the suspicion of being "child lifters" when they were selling plastic items in a village in Odisha's Kendrapara district, police said.

Santosh Banjara (48) and his wife Mamata Singh Banjara (45) were selling stationery and plastic items in Nimapur village when the mob allegedly assaulted them, they added.

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They were rescued by the police and admitted to a nearby health centre, an officer said.

"We are investigating the case. The couple was also being interrogated," said Padmalaya Pradhan, the inspector in charge of the Pattamundai Sadar police station.

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A rumour was doing rounds in villages that "child lifters" were roaming, he said, urging people to contact the police if they find someone suspicious, but not to take the law into their own hands.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)