Nagpur couple booked for allegedly confining minor son at home for two months

Nagpur: The Police here on Saturday said that a 12-year-old boy who had been kept chained inside his home for nearly two months by his parents has been rescued in Nagpur.

The parents, who work as daily wage labourers, told police they resorted to the harsh measure because of what they described as behavioural problems and said they did not know how else to handle him.

According to officials, the rescue took place on Friday afternoon after Childline 1098 received a complaint, reported PTI.

“The child was found with his hands and legs bound with iron chains and ropes. He was standing on a plastic bucket and could barely move,” an officer said.

The parents reportedly tied him up around 9 am before leaving for work each day, locking the house until they returned.

Injuries on the boy’s limbs appeared to be several months old, indicating he had been subjected to repeated physical abuse, the officer added. He was found weak, frightened and emotionally distressed. The parents claimed he often stole small items, including mobile phones, and said they felt helpless.

However, police noted that their actions amounted to a serious violation of child rights.

Though Ajni police had earlier received information about the boy’s behaviour, the family never sought help from child welfare agencies and had even pulled him out of school.

Following the latest complaint, the District Child Protection Unit and police rescued the child and placed him in a children’s home, where he is receiving medical care and counselling.

“A case has been registered, and the matter has been sent to the Child Welfare Committee for further proceedings under the Juvenile Justice Act,” said senior inspector Nitin Rajkumar of Ajni police station.