KARNATAKA — A horrifying case of child abuse has emerged from Raichur, Karnataka, where a Class 3 student was allegedly subjected to severe physical punishment and torture over an alleged pen theft. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for justice after the child’s family revealed the harrowing details of his ordeal.
The victim, identified as Tarun Kumar, was staying at the Ramakrishna Ashram in Raichur due to his family’s challenging financial situation. According to his family, Tarun was brutally beaten with firewood, tortured, and locked up in a room for three days by the ashram’s in-charge, Venugopal, and his aides. A case has been registered against the accused following the revelation of the abuse.
In a heart-wrenching account, Tarun described the abuse he endured. “Two older boys and a teacher hit me. They hit me with firewood, and when it broke, they used a bat. They also caused cuts on my body. They took me to Yagdir to beg for alms at the railway station, but I didn’t receive any money,” the young boy recounted. He further expressed his distress by stating, “I was beaten up all because of this one pen.”
The child sustained multiple injuries, including severe swelling of his eyes, and has been hospitalized for treatment. The incident came to light when Tarun’s mother visited the ashram and discovered the extent of her son’s suffering.
Tarun’s mother, who has two sons at the ashram, shared her anguish and disbelief. “My son’s name is Tarun Kumar. He is in Class 3. My other son, Arun Kumar, is in the 5th grade. I left both of them at the ashram. When I went to visit them, my elder son, Arun, informed me about how Tarun was attacked and how his face was bruised,” she said.
She vehemently denied the allegations of theft, explaining that her son had merely picked up a pen that had fallen and moved it. “Another boy gave the teacher’s pen to my son on Saturday since he didn’t have one. When searching for the pen on Sunday, the teacher found it with my son, and this whole incident happened over a pen,” she added.
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The mother accused the teacher and ashram staff of extreme cruelty, alleging that Tarun was subjected to physical abuse intended to instill fear and shame. “The teacher tortured my son so badly that people say my son has been reborn. The teacher hit my child with two belts, blindfolded him, and tied his hands. The teacher also caused cuts on his legs and hands and beat him until midnight,” she said.
Child rights activists have responded strongly to the incident. Sudarshan, a prominent child rights advocate, confirmed that Tarun has been rescued and that the matter has been escalated to government authorities, including the Women and Child Welfare Ministry. An FIR has been lodged against Venugopal and others involved in the abuse.
“This case is a stark reminder of the severe issues within some child care institutions and the urgent need for stringent monitoring and enforcement of child protection laws. The brutality faced by this young boy is unacceptable and demands immediate action and justice,” Sudarshan stated.
The shocking nature of this case has prompted widespread condemnation and calls for accountability. Authorities are expected to take stringent measures to address the lapses in the ashram’s management and ensure that such egregious abuses are not repeated. The community and child welfare organizations are rallying to support the victim and his family, advocating for their rights and the implementation of necessary reforms to safeguard children in similar institutions.
