Bhopal: Four boys had been forced to put their hands in a cauldron of boiling oil to prove their innocence in Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh.
They were forced to do so Thursday after a theft of Rs 500 at Jhela village, 45 km from district headquarters.
Bhagwandas Chhadar and his brother Lakhan suspected four boys Bharat Kushwah, 12, Halkati Kachi, 13, Ramkumar Kushwah, 17, and Akash, 14, had stolen Rs 500 of their father.
Lakhan went to their houses, who live in neighbourhood and lured them with a promise of a treat.
They were allegedly assaulted by the Chhadar family, accusing them of theft. The boys pleaded innocence. The family decided their role in theft could be identified thorough test by fire. When they ordered them to dip hands in boiling oil, the minors refused.
The Chhadar family held them and forcibly dipped their hands in the cauldron one by one. In the process, their fingers were scalded.
One of the victims, Akash, managed to escape and informed his parents and family of the other children. Villagers rushed to the Chhadar home and rescued them.
Police had later arrested guilty and said, “Superstition still exists among tribals in locality. We are campaigning against such beliefs and trying our best to raise awareness.”
Bureau Report
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