14-year-old boy accused of stealing mobile phone, beaten up by cop

HASSAN: A 14-years old boy was beaten up badly by a police constable, for allegedly stealing a mobile phone, at Mundugatta village in Chikkamagalur taluk on Monday. The boy is now undergoing treatment at the Belur government hospital.

Constable Jagadish (circled) has been accused of beating up a 14-year-old boy.

Preetham, a Class 8 student who stays in a hostel, had gone to his grandmother’s house for holidays. He attended the wedding reception of police constable Shalini, a relative, on Sunday. The next day, Shalini’s phone went missing, and one of the cops suspected Preetham, who was playing outside.

Police constables Jagadish and Shailesh questioned Preetham about the missing mobile phone, but the boy did not admit to stealing it. They then allegedly dragged the boy to a cornfield, tied him up and severely assaulted him.

Preetham is studying in eighth standard, who beaten by the constable.

“I was grazing cattle when they approached me and questioned about a lost mobile phone. They even tied me up to the ankles. When they saw my family members and other approaching, they untied me and left the spot”, the boy told media persons in hospital.

Locals gathered at the spot where the policemen had left the boy and took him to a hospital. The police have reportedly not taken any action against Jagadish even though a complaint was registered against him at the Belur police station.

Acccording to the boy’s family, constable Jagadish even threatened the boy at hospital to withdraw the complaint.