Teenager abused in government-run shelter for homeless in Bangalore
A 13-year-old mistaken for a homeless boy was allegedly beaten with a plastic rod and forced to crawl around and clean dirty toilets at a government home in Bangalore where he was taken earlier this week.
He is at a hospital, being treated for wounds on his arms and on his knees, which were badly scraped when he was forced to crawl down a corridor repeatedly.
His mother says he went missing on Tuesday after school but he was never given a chance to explain that he had a family and was not homeless.
Speaking in English, the boy shared his horrific experience: "They beat me at night with plastic pipes. They tied me up. They thought I was simply roaming and not going to school. I tried to clarify but they did not listen. They asked me to crawl on my knees for one km. They asked me to clean the toilets and kitchen."
The boy says he was at a bus stop after school when three men caught hold of him and took him to an NGO for runaway and homeless children. From there he was taken to a government-run home, where he allegedly suffered various forms of punishment at the hands of the man in charge, Ramesh.
"Don't let the person who did this get away. If a child goes missing, escort him. Teach the child but don't punish him like this. What if the child had died?" the boy's mother said.
The police are investigating the case.
"The boy was sent to a juvenile home and was beaten with a plastic rod by the in-charge of the home. Strict action will be taken against those involved in this," said senior police officer, Sandeep Patil.