The police in Maharashtra's Palghar district have appealed to citizens to show restraint and not believe in rumours after a message claiming that some people had tried to kidnap children went viral on social media, reported news agency PTI.

Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh told reporters on Tuesday night that the message talks about a few masked people moving in a black Scorpio within the jurisdiction of Kasa police station on July 14.

One of the masked individuals even tried to speak to a few schoolchildren, according to the message.