Delhi builder's kin 'torture' four kids over stolen cellphone

The family of a south Delhi-based builder allegedly snatched four young boys from a Green Park street, thrashed them brutally and poured boiling water on one of the children after suspecting them of stealing a cellphone, police said on Saturday.

The family of a south Delhi-based builder allegedly snatched four young boys from a Green Park street, thrashed them brutally and poured boiling water on one of the children after suspecting them of stealing a cellphone, police said on Saturday.

Officials said Vijay Israni’s wife, two sons and three employees illegally held the victims for more than 11 hours and punched, kicked and thrashed them with sticks apart from scalding the eldest boy.

The six accused have been booked and the employees arrested, police said. The victims, aged eight to 16, are ragpickers.

“When they tried to escape, the children say the woman threatened to implicate them in a false case,” said a police officer.

The incident came to light, when the accused took two of the boys to the victims’ home at Safdarjung Enclave in search of the mobile phone.

“The family members of the missing children were hunting for them, suspecting they had met with an accident,” the officer said.

Israni rejected the allegations and said his family was being wrongly accused.

“The boys were loitering in the area and my staff saw them take the phone. We had even made a police complaint, but nothing has been done in this regard,” he added.

Deputy commissioner of police Prem Nath said Israni’s wife and sons were absconding.

“We have registered a case of causing hurt using dangerous means, illegal confinement, and other relevant sections at the Safdarjung Enclave police station,” he said.

The victims were taken to a hospital, as one had severe burn wounds on his chest and the others had injuries on their limbs.