Child lifting suspicion: Mentally unstable man lynched, body dumped in well in Madhya Pradesh

Sub-divisional police officer B S Dhurve told The Indian Express that the 10 accused were produced before a local court that sent them to judicial custody on Monday. He said the had accused claimed to have attacked Mukesh after he told them that he was from neighbouring Anuppur district and was there to take away children.

The police are investigating all other possible angles to the crime, but said more arrests in the case were unlikely.

Dhurve confirmed that the victim was a resident of Anuppur district and had lost his mental balance four years ago. The victim was “missing” after he had left his home on July 26, the police officer said. It was not immediately clear if his relatives had lodged a missing complaint.

The incident comes within a month after a mentally-ill woman was allegedly lynched in Singrauli district on suspicion of child theft on July 21. At least 12 people were arrested in the case.