Ten-year-old boy beaten to death on suspicion of stealing snacks; shop owner, associates absconding
Bengaluru, Mar 24: A 10-year-old boy was allegedly tortured to death by a shop owner and his associates for reportedly stealing snacks from the store in Haveri district of Karnataka on March 16, police sources said on Wednesday.
The boy named Harishayya Hiremath was allegedly locked up in a room, tied to a stone, and beaten.
He died at a hospital on Monday, the sources said.
The shop is located at Uppanasi village in Hanagal taluk.
The shop owner Praveen Karishettar and others are absconding, police said.
According to the boy's father Nagayya Hiremath, his son was in the captivity of the shop owner when they went in search of him as he did not return for long.
Only after the father's repeated requests the boy was reportedly set free in the evening of March 16, the sources said.
He was immediately taken to a Haveri hospital and subsequently shifted to another one at Hubballi, where he died, they said.
Police sources said they are waiting for the post-mortem report to know the exact cause of death, and arrest those absconding.
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Bengaluru: Four arrested for housebreaking, threats, extortion; fake PSI among accused
Bengaluru: Vidyaranyapura police have arrested four persons, including a man posing as a Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), for allegedly breaking into a house, threatening the occupants, and extorting money while wearing police uniforms.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mallikarjuna, Pramod, Vinay, and Hrithik.
Police said the accused had hatched a plan to pose as police personnel, conduct fake raids, and extort money from residents by intimidation.
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According to the police, Mallikarjuna had failed the PSI examination twice and later falsely projected himself as a PSI. He allegedly conducted photo shoots in his hometown, Siraguppa, wearing a police uniform, baton, cap, and shoes, claiming to be serving as a PSI in Bengaluru.
On December 7, the four accused allegedly went to the house of Naveen in the Vidyaranyapura limits, threatened him with a stick and an iron rod, and claimed they had information that he was selling ganja. Under the pretext of searching, they allegedly extorted ₹87,000 through bank transfer, ₹53,000 in cash kept in the house, and ₹2,000 from his wallet.
Following Naveen’s complaint, Vidyaranyapura police registered a case and launched an operation, leading to the arrest of all four accused. Police have seized ₹45,000 in cash and the car used to commit the crime.
Further investigation is underway.
