Bhubaneswar, June 16: Mob thrashed three persons, including two mentally-challenged siblings, at Laxmiposi Chhak near Baripada in Mayurbhanj district today suspecting them to be kidnappers of children.

The two critically-injured youths were rushed to a local government hospital, from where they were later referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

The two youths - Jogendra Barik, 24, and his 17-year-old brother Amarendra - are both residents of Budhikhamari., They had gone to Sankhabhanga village to meet an acquaintance when they lost their way and asked an 11-year-old for directions. "However, some local residents waylaid them and asked for their names and address. When they couldn't answer, the mob thrashed them," said inspector of Baripada Sadar police station Tilottama Rout. The cops said the youths' father, Somanath Barik, who rushed to rescue them, was also beaten up. Later, police reached the spot and rescued the victims. The cops have identified 30 culprits from a video footage and registered a case of attempt to murder.