Police arrested two persons on Sunday for being a part of a mob that had lynched three youths and an old lady on suspicion of being child-lifters at Nagadih in Baghbera in 2017, four years after the crime made national headlines.

The two, Mahi Singh Sardar, alias Mahin, and Ravi Bhumij, are the last of the 30 accused to be arrested, said Bagbera police station OC Rajesh Kumar Singh. "We were on the lookout for the two accused. We got a tip-off that the duo had returned to their houses. As soon as we got the information, we raided their houses and arrested them," the OC said.

On the night of May 18, 2017, a mob of about 500 people, mostly from Nagadih village, lynched three youths who were labourers scouting the neighbourhood for construction jobs. But the mob acted on rumours that child-lifter gangs were in circulation and attacked the three. They also did not spare the 76-year-old woman, grandmother of two of the youths. She had gone to plead their case.

Those who died that night were Vikash Verma (28), Gautam Verma (26) and Gangesh Gupta (27). The elderly woman was identified as Ram Sakhi Devi, who died in hospital days after she was assaulted with a boulder.

OC Rajesh Singh pointed out that there were 30 named, besides over 200 unnamed, accused in the case. Earlier, 28 of the named accused had surrendered. He said police had submitted a charge sheet in court.

The two who were arrested on Sunday were sent to Ghaghidih Central Jail in the evening.

Significantly, four others were lynched the same day at Rajnagar block of neighbouring Seraikela Kharsawan district. The victims were cattle traders whom the mob thought were child-lifters.