Nine arrested for torturing theft accused minor boy in Channagiri village

DAVANAGERE: The Channagiri police have arrested nine people in a single day stripping a 10-year-old boy naked, tying him to a tree and brutally assaulting and tortured him by releasing ants on him on April 4, at Astpanahalli village in Channagiri taluk.

The boy was accused of attempting to steal at the house of one Darshan in the village, but he had escaped from there. However, the next day, the boy was taken to the areca plantation of one Zakir Sab His where the boy’s relatives, including his uncle, assaulted him inhumanely. A video of the incident went viral on social media, sparking public outrage.

Based on a complaint from the boy’s grandfather, the police have arrested Subhash (23), Lakki (21), Darshan (22), Parashu (25), Shivadarshan (23), Harish (25), Patti Raju (20), Bhuni (18) and Sudhan alias Madhusudhan (23).