Dhule lynching guilty will not be spared: MoS Home Ahir

All those involved in the lynching of five people in Maharashtra over suspicion that they were members of a gang of 'child-lifters' will not be spared and action is being taken against them, Union minister Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said today.

Ahir also said he spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after a mob attacked and lynched the five people in Dhule district of Maharashtra following rumours on social media on Saturday.

"I have spoken to the chief minister. Action is being taken and those involved in the incident will be spared," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

All the deceased hailed from Solapur and belonged to a nomadic community. They had come in search of livelihood due to a drought-like situation in their district, police said.

So far, 23 people have been arrested and they were booked under IPC Section 302 (murder) and the sections pertaining to rioting.

The incident took place at the tribal-dominated Rainpada hamlet, 25 km from Pimpalner in Dhule district.