Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday ordered a high-level inquiry after reports said a minor boy had been arrested and jailed for three months allegedly after he refused to give vegetables to local policemen for free. Kumar asked an officer of inspector-general rank to conduct the inquiry and submit a report within two days. “Based on the findings of the report, speedy action will follow,” read the order, according to The Indian Express.
Media reports claimed that the 14-year-old resident of Chitragupta Nagar area in Patna was taken into custody on March 19. After his family looked for him at different police stations for two days, they were informed by the Patrakar Nagar police station that he had been arrested in a motorcycle theft case. The police also claimed that the boy was 18 years old though his Aadhaar card said he was 14, reported NDTV.
The teenager reportedly told his family that he had been named a co-accused in the case along with two unknown people. He also accused the police of assaulting him up and making him sign a blank piece of paper.
“The matter is very serious,” said Inspector General of Police (Patna Zone) Naiyar Hasnain Khan, according to The Indian Express. “It will be thoroughly probed and if allegations are found true, sternest possible action will be taken against the guilty policemen”.
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