Telangana: 14-Year-Old Dalit Boy 'Tied Up, Beaten For Plucking Pomegranate'

The victim, belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, had climbed the compound wall of the headmaster's house to pluck a pomegranate.

A 14-year-old Dalit boy was allegedly tied up and beaten by a retired government school headmaster for plucking a pomegranate from his house in Kesaram village in Shabad mandal. The incident occurred on June 22 and came to light after the boy's mother lodged a complaint on June 24.

According to the police, the victim, belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, had climbed the compound wall of the headmaster's house to pluck a pomegranate. Upon discovering the boy, the house owner tied his hands and legs with a rope and allegedly beat him. A photograph showing the boy lying on the ground in a distressed state has gone viral, further amplifying the outrage, according to a report on PTI.

The accused has been identified as 80-year-old Madhusudhan Reddy, a former government school headmaster.

The victim's mother, who went to the spot to rescue her son, was allegedly abused by the headmaster and his son. Based on her complaint, the police have registered a case against the man and his son under IPC sections 342 (wrongful confinement) and 324 (voluntarily causing hurt). Additionally, charges under the Juvenile Justice Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have been filed, as per the report.

The authorities have assured that a thorough investigation is ongoing to ensure justice for the victim.

In April 2024, an 8-year-old boy was thrashed for allegedly touching a water bucket at a village in Rajasthan’s Alwar district. The incident took place while the boy went to drink water at a hand pump located within the government school.  However, the man who was filling the bucket immediately assaulted the boy. The man, belonging to an upper caste, reportedly assaulted the boy since he touched the bucket.