The police in Haryana’s Palwal have filed a case against 10 members of a family for allegedly torturing and wrongfully confining a 12-year-old Dalit boy for several hours after accusing him of theft, the Hindustan Times reported.

The incident took place on the night of December 10.

While one person accused in the matter has been arrested so far, three prime accused are absconding, the newspaper reported.

The members of the family have been charged with voluntarily causing hurt and wrongful confinement. They were also booked under provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Prevention of Atrocities Act and the Juvenile Justice Care and Protection of Children Act.

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The police was quoted as saying that the family allegedly tied the boy’s limbs and repeatedly gave him electric shocks. The minor told the investigators that he had also been sexually abused by the family. He is being treated in hospital for burn injuries.

The boy carries lights during wedding processions to financially support his family.

On December 10, he was returning to Banchari village from Hodal town near Palwal with two other children when a car with persons who were allegedly drunk began chasing them at around 11.30 pm.

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The boy told the police that while trying to escape he jumped into the premises of a house and the other children ran towards the village.

The family living in the house caught the minor, suspecting he was a thief, and assaulted him, the newspaper quoted the police as saying. They called the police hours later.

The three prime suspects who are absconding filed anticipatory bail petitions on Monday. A hearing in the sessions court on Wednesday was adjourned after a medical report on the injuries sustained by the minor was presented, the Hindustan Times reported.

The matter will be heard next on January 8.