Three minor boys were stripped and beaten up mercilessly by a group of men including a local shopkeeper who accused them of stealing money from a shop in Hoskote. The incident took place on Thursday, June 30, but came to light only on Saturday.
Though the aggrieved parents have filed a complaint against the local shopkeeper and his associates, they have accused the police of inaction.
According to the complaint, a Class 8 student of a government high school in Hoskote, along with two of his friends, had gone to a local bookstore to buy a book.
While they were in the store, the owner stopped the boys, and accused them of shoplifting. Along with his associates, he dragged the students to an isolated location at the back of a shop, stripped them and started caning them. Video footage of the incident—allegedly recorded on the phone by one of the men—shows that the gang did not let up despite pleas from the boys.
After an hour of the ordeal, the boys were released. When their parents learned of what happened, and saw the bruises, they rushed the boys to a local hospital and also informed the police.
Three of the accused have been identified as Nooruddin, Mastan and Sameer.
The Hoskote police said that based on the complaint, a case of assault was registered, and efforts are on to nab the accused who are on the run.
The Karnataka State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights has taken cognisance of the case and directed the police to investigate the case and appear before the commission on July 12, along with the accused.
