A law unto themselves: Boy attacked with acid for stealing fruit

Father says Sagheer was picking fruit from guava trees when farm workers Khalid and Mehmood caught him.

BAHAWALPUR: A six-year-old boy was beaten up and burnt with acid for trespass on a farm in Dhandgha Gadi village near Khanpur on Wednesday. The boy’s father told the media that Sagheer was picking fruit from guava trees when farm workers Khalid and Mehmood caught him. “They beat him and then threw acid on him.” He said Sagheer was being treated at a hospital. “I have registered a case with Khanpur Saddar police… Khalid and Mehmood are threatening me with dire consequences… pressuring me to withdraw the complaint.” Dozens of residents protested on Wednesday against police for not arresting those responsible for the acid attack. Investigation Officer Maqbool Abbasi told the media that police had arrested Mehmood.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2014.