Though the incident occurred on Thursday (June 30), it came to light on Saturday after a video showing the accused beating up the boys went viral on social media and local news channels aired the footage.
The video shows a group of men repeatedly beating three boys with a stick and chasing them all across a deserted area even as they cry out in pain.
“They beat them, accused them of stealing from the shop; there are bruises all over their body…After getting to know about the incident we took him to Hospital for treatment and then gave a complaint,” father of one of the victims said.
“The boys were picked up after school by the group and taken to a nearby deserted area to be tortured. They are 8th standard students and were on fast (Ramzan),”a relative of one of the victims said.
Parents alleged that the boys were even given shock treatment by the men, one of whom was the shopkeeper’s son. Police said they are on the lookout for some other men, includng the shopkeeper’s son.
Families of the boys had earlier charged the police with inaction over the case.Karnataka State Child Rights Commission is also seized of the matter.
Police said four persons were arrested in connection with the Thursday’s incident.
“A criminal case has been booked under the Pocso Act against six accused, but only four have been arrested, as two others are absconding,” Superintendent of Police, Bengaluru Rural, Amit Singh told IANS from Hoskote, 30km from here.