Mumbai: An autorickshaw driver donning a burqa was beaten up by locals after he was mistaken as a child-lifter. Sheikh told the police that he had worn a burqa to conceal his identity while searching for passengers involved in a previous fare dispute who had allegedly not paid him. Tausif Mohammed Shaikh, a local resident of the area, had dropped three passengers in his auto rickshaw in Parksite two days back. However, the trio fled without paying the fare following a dispute. Cops said there was no evidence to suggest any involvement in child theft or related criminal activity, clarified police.Police said rumours of children getting kidnapped circulating among residents led citizens to apprehend the individual wearing a burqa and assault him before handing him over to the police. Cops have stated that rumours of a child-lifting gang operating in the area are baseless. Officials have warned that spreading unverified information can lead to serious consequences, including harm to innocent individuals.
