Bhubaneswar/Berhampur: Director-general of police R.P. Sharma has denied reports of child-lifting gangs in the state, especially in southern districts, at a time a mobs continue to thrash people suspecting them to be indulging in the crime.

Sharma said the police superintendents concerned have been asked to clarify the matter and prevent such rumours from spreading further.

"It is a rumour that child-lifting gangs are active in the state and so far no such cases have been reported. This rumour has spread through social media," said Sharma in Bhubaneswar.

Sharma also advised people not to beat up random people. "Mobs have started attacking strangers out of panic. We have advised people not to take law into their hands. We have also instructed the police superintendents to keep a strict vigil on this."

Two such incidents were reported on Sunday in Nayagarh and Berhampur where mobs assaulted people on the suspicion of being child-lifters. While one youth was assaulted at Neelakantha Nagar in Ganjam district, a skill-development trainer had to face a similar situation at Basantapur in Nayagarh.

The police said action would be taken against the rumour-mongers.