Child tortured accusing her of stealing Tk200, two held

A third grader was tied with a tree by a rope and brutally tortured for allegedly stealing Tk200 from a tea stall in Khetlal upazila of Joypurhat.

The incident took place in Dhantala Bazar area of the upazila on Saturday (October 09) afternoon.

A case was filed in this connection after the video of the torture captured by people standing on the spot went viral on social media.

Police then arrested two women named Beli Begum and her associate Rahima Begum, on the night of the incident following the case.

Nirendranath Mandal, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Khetlal Police Station, confirmed the matter.

The arrestee is known as Beli Begum, wife of Abu Bakkar Siddique of Dhantala Bazar area.

The victim, Anika Akhter, 9, is the daughter of Anisur Rahman of Dhantala Bazar area. She is a third grader of the local Samantahar Government Primary School.

Quoting locals, the OC said Beli Begum, a tea vendor in Dhantala Bazar, was selling tea. At that time, bringing an allegation that Tk200 was missing from her cash box, she accused Anika of stealing it, tied her to a tree and tortured her mercilessly.

OC Nirendranath Mandal further said that the child started crying denying the allegation of stealing TK200.