Boinda: In a shocking incident of cruelty to minors, residents of Ambapala village under Kishorenagar police limits in Angul district tied five kids to utility poles under the blazing sun on the charges of stealing from a provision shop Monday.
Not to be satisfied, the villagers made the children kneel on the ground for an hour in the sweltering heat. The locals even removed the shirts of the kids and garlanded them with slippers to humiliate them in public.
The boys admitted to have committed the theft and were let off after they apologised to the villagers. All the boys belong to the age group of 10 to 14. However, no complaint has been filed in Kishorenagar police station in this regard.
The incident occurred when the minors were caught stealing cold drink bottles and provisions from the grocery shop of Ashok Swain in the village. While two were caught red-handed the rest were overpowered while they were fleeing.
The incident coming at a time when the government has banned corporal punishment to kids on school premises and other institutions, has drawn flak from various quarters. PNN