Child Subjected to Public Abuse and Forced Head Shaving Over Theft Allegation in Netrokona
Photo Collected
A 12-year-old boy was subjected to public humiliation and physical abuse in Netrokona’s Kalmakanda upazila on Monday after being accused of theft. The incident, which occurred in the Panchgaon Bazar area, was captured on video and subsequently circulated on social media, sparking outrage over the vigilante justice meted out to a minor.
According to local reports and police, the situation began when hardware merchant Abdul Mannan discovered that 8,500 taka was missing from his shop’s cash box after returning from a brief break. Fellow traders suggested the young boy, who had been seen near the shop, might be responsible. A group of merchants subsequently located the child in the Chaita area. Upon searching him, they reportedly found the cash tucked into his clothing.
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Instead of notifying law enforcement, the merchants detained the child and brought him to the base of a local monument in the market. In the presence of approximately 40 to 50 people, including business owners, the boy’s head was forcibly shaved by Ratan Rabidas, a village police member attached to the Rongchati Union Parishad. Video footage of the incident shows the perpetrator justifying the act as a “shameful” punishment intended to deter future theft, while encouraging onlookers to record and share the video online.
During the ordeal, the child was pressured into pleading for forgiveness with his hands joined, promising not to steal again. Following the public shaming, he was marched around the market before being released. The victim’s uncle expressed deep distress over the incident, stating that despite the presence of a large crowd, no one intervened to stop the abuse. He maintained that even if an offense had been committed, the boy should have been turned over to the authorities rather than being subjected to such degrading treatment.
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Local officials have confirmed they are aware of the footage. Inspector (Investigation) Sajal Sarkar of Kalmakanda Police Station stated that police have launched an investigation into the matter following directives from the Superintendent of Police. Authorities have pledged to bring those responsible for the vigilante act to justice, though attempts to reach the accused merchant and the village police member for comment were unsuccessful as their mobile phones remained switched off.
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