Palghar lynching: The mob would have killed me too, says Sarpanch Chitra Chaudhary

Three people, who were travelling from Kandivali in Mumbai to Gujarat via interior roads of Palghar, were beaten to death on April 17 by Gadchinchle villagers, suspecting them as thieves. The three men were taken to the hospital where they were declared brought dead.

In this whole incident, Chitra Chaudhary, the village sarpanch, said that she was rescued by the police, who are under attack after the video of the incident went viral.

Chitra Chuadhary is a member of the BJP. She said she tried to protect the sadhus from getting lynched for at least three hours. She said she could not control them longer due to increasing size of the attacking mob.

"The cops managed to take one of the sadhus and the driver inside their car. When the cops tried taking the senior sadhu, the mob attacked him severely. His head started bleeding profusely. I somehow saved myself but the stone pelting was still on. If the police would not have come to my rescue the mob would have killed me too," the sarpanch said.

The sarpanch is now being threatened by the villagers. She said that strict action should be taken against those who are accused. 

K Shinde, District Magistrate, Palghar, said the police reached the spot immediately but villagers continued to attack the three men.

Police have registered an FIR and arrested more than 100 people in connection with the lynchings.