Class 3 Student Tortured, Beaten With Firewood for 3 Days for Pen Theft at Karnataka Ashram

Bengaluru: A Class 3 student was allegedly locked up, beaten with firewood, tortured for three days at an ashram in Karnataka’s Raichur for allegedly stealing a pen, his family alleged on Sunday, as reported by India Today.

The boy, a boarder of the Ramakrishna Ashram in Raichur, was allegedly injured by the in-charge of the Ashram and his aides. A case has been registered against the accused.

According to reports, the victim has alleged that two older boys and a teacher hit him with firewood, and when it broke, they used a bat. They also caused cuts on his body and was forced to beg at the Yagdir railway station.

As per the victim, he faced the ordeal because of a pen, which the ashram authorities alleged that he had stolen.

The boy was hospitalized as he suffered multiple injuries, and his eyes were completely swollen in the attack.

The boy was staying at the ashram due to unfavourable financial condition of his family. His classmates accused him of stealing a pen and reported the incident to the ashram authorities, who mercilessly thrashed the boy.

The incident came to the fore when the victim’s mother visited the Ashram. The mother denied the allegation that her son had stolen a pen, saying, “He just picked up a pen that had fallen and placed it elsewhere.”

Child rights activists have raised the issue with government authorities at the Women and Child Welfare Ministry. An FIR has been registered against the accused.