The boy in questionEarlier this week, a police case was filed in Karnataka that a minor Muslim boy returning from madrassa was assaulted by two men “from another religion” who abused him and tore off his clothes. The allegation was reported it in the media as a possible communal crime, sparking strong reactions on social media.
After investigation, the police say that the boy made up the story and he was never assaulted.
Various newspapers have quoted Mangaluru police commissioner N Shashi Kumar as saying that the boy tore his shirt using his own pen, and that he cooked up the story as he was not getting attention at home and school.
The Times of India has quoted the senior police officer as saying, “Considering the incident very seriously, our officials took up the investigation swiftly and collected evidence, including circumstantial witnesses and checked CCTV footage. Meanwhile, myself and my team also interacted with the boy in the presence of Child Welfare Committee representatives and a doctor. In fact, the boy has been facing the problem of learning difficulties and he is not able to concentrate on studies. He is facing difficulties due to lack of close friends in school. He also feels being ignored in class because of his dark skin complexion and poor academic skills. Meanwhile, poverty at home too added to his woes and parents also are worried over his future.”
The boy, 13, attends a madrassa in Surathlal area and also studies at a local school.
The boy’s confession came after the CCTV footage did not match his allegation, the police say.
The boy had earlier said that he was assaulted around 9.30 pm near Chakravarthy ground on Monday. A police case was filed under IPC section 320 (any hurt which endangers life or which causes the sufferer to be during the space of twenty days in severe bodily pain, or unable to follow his ordinary pursuit) at Surathkal police station on a complaint by his parents.
He confessed to lying to the police on Thursday.
The incident had led to communal tension in Surathkal, Krishnapura and Hosabettu areas of Mangaluru, which is known for being communally sensitive.
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