Nine Aghori babas, reportedly from Madhya Pradesh, were detained by villagers in Bhaliabeda, Angul district, on suspicion of attempting to kidnap a schoolboy.
The incident occurred when two students from Bhaliabeda Government Upper Primary School stepped out to buy pens. One of the boys was allegedly being pulled into a vehicle when the other raised an alarm.
Alerted by the child’s screams, local residents rushed to the scene and intercepted two vehicles carrying the babas. The nine men were handed over to Rengali police, who have since taken them into custody and launched a full-scale investigation.
Jayanta Mohanty, Officer-in-Charge of Rengali Police Station, stated that the exact circumstances are still under scrutiny and further details will emerge as the inquiry progresses. The incident has sparked concern across the district, with parents and school authorities demanding increased security measures around educational institutions.
The motive behind the alleged kidnapping remains unclear, and police are working to verify the villagers’ claims while tracing the background of the detained individuals.
