MALAPPURAM: In a suspected incident of
vigilantism
, two men were attacked and injured by a mob numbering more than 100 persons at Eranhimavu near Areekode in the district late on Wednesday.
Two police officers, who tried to rescue the youths, Saifudheen (25) and Mubasheer (31), natives of Edasserykkadavu near
Edavannappara
, were also beaten up.
The youngsters have been admitted to a private medical college near Manassery in Kozhikode.
Police said the crowd, after receiving an alert message over WhatsApp, stopped the car in which the youths were travelling at Kallayi near Eranhimavu around 11.30pm.
The message reportedly said that two men were seen riding a blue car under suspicious circumstances, said Raihana Baby, Kuttooli ward member.
When the car-borne men failed to provide satisfactory answers, the mob attacked them, police said, adding that the local residents had formed patrol squads after several thefts were reported in the area.
A police team that arrived at the scene was also attacked. Grade SI of Areekode police Subrahmanyan and civil police officer Sinoj suffered minor injuries in the incident.
Police have suo motu registered a case against 100 residents of Eranhimavu in connection with the incident.