Villagers publicly humiliated minors in alleged theft case in Jharkhand

Jharkhand: In a shocking incident in Sahebganj, Jharkhand, two minors were publicly shamed and subjected to corporal punishment, including having their heads partially shaved, after being accused of theft. The villagers administered the punishment, which included making them wear garlands of shoes and making them stand in a mud pit for around four hours. The two boys, from a village within the jurisdiction of the Rajmahal police station, were caught allegedly stealing INR 5,000 from a house in the village on Sunday. A local woman noticed their actions and alerted the villagers. While one boy was apprehended, the other managed to escape. Upon questioning, both admitted to their wrongdoing. Despite their promise to return the stolen money, the villagers did not let them off. After enduring the punishment for around four hours, the police, upon receiving information about the incident, arrived at the scene. The boys were taken to a hospital in Rajmahal for medical treatment. Subsequently, based on the complaint filed by the boys' parents, the police registered a case against six individuals involved in the punishment. The villagers defended their actions, stating that the boys had been caught multiple times stealing, but each time was let go, which they believed led to the continuation of their wrongful acts. However, the parents of the boys claim that their sons have been falsely accused.