Dalit children assaulted over theft accusation in India
Two 13-year-old boys were allegedly beaten, threatened and bound with ropes in Uttar Pradesh, prompting police case under caste atrocity law
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Two 13-year-old Dalit boys were allegedly beaten, threatened and tied up with ropes by a neighbor in northern India, prompting police to open a case under legislation designed to protect historically oppressed castes.
The incident occurred in Nithari village in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district, where one of the boys was visiting his maternal relatives for the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan.
Both children belong to the Dalit community, which occupies the lowest position in Hinduism’s centuries-old caste hierarchy and has historically been subjected to discrimination and violence.
According to a complaint filed by the family, neighbor Aditya Chaudhary called the two boys — identified in local reports as Ansh and Pravesh — to his property on Aug. 29 and accused them of theft. The family alleged that he verbally abused and assaulted them, threatened to kill them and bound their hands and feet before keeping them under a tin shed.
Their family began searching after the boys failed to return home. Nain Singh, father of one of the children, said he heard their voices coming from the neighbor’s property and found them tied up. He freed them and called India’s emergency police number, 112.
Images and footage showing the children restrained later circulated on social media, bringing wider attention to the case and raising questions about the initial police response.
Local reports offered conflicting accounts of what happened afterward. The family alleged police initially failed to take action despite taking those involved to the police station, while police said the families had initially reached a settlement. Authorities subsequently registered a criminal case after footage of the incident spread online.
Chola police station chief Digvijay Nath Shahi said a case had been registered under India’s Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act as well as other legal provisions.
Police have disputed parts of the family’s account, saying their investigation indicated the children had mistakenly entered the accused’s enclosure and were detained by him. Officials said allegations that they were beaten over theft were incorrect and identified the accused as a minor.
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