Minor Boy Stripped Nude, Beaten for ‘Rs 300-loan’ in Maharashtra CM’s Hometown; 1 Nabbed
THANE, Maharashtra – In a disturbing incident that unfolded in Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s hometown of Thane, a 17-year-old boy was subjected to a horrifying assault. The victim was stripped naked, paraded on a road, and brutally beaten by two individuals wielding a belt. The motive behind the violent attack was apparently the boy’s failure to repay a Rs 300-loan and the alleged theft of a Bluetooth headphone. The shocking incident took place in full public view near the Jama Masjid in the Kalwa suburb on Tuesday afternoon.
The two assailants, identified as Tausif Khanbande and Samil Khanbande, barged into the minor’s residence at Annapurna Building, near the scene of the crime. Prompted by a video that went viral, the Kalwa Police swiftly took action and apprehended Tausif, who has been remanded in two days of police custody. An intensive search is underway for his accomplice, Samil.
Civil outrage erupted in response to the incident, with various political figures demanding justice for the victim. Sushma Andhare, Deputy Leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), criticized the state government’s handling of the situation and shared the video with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and her party leadership.
According to the police investigation, the Khanbande duo accused the minor boy of both the theft and not repaying the loan borrowed from them a year ago. However, the boy, who is from a minority community, denied these allegations. Despite his protests, Tausif and Samil physically assaulted him, coercing him to accompany them to a nearby mosque.
At the mosque, Tausif relentlessly whipped the boy with a belt while Samil callously recorded the ordeal on video. The situation escalated when the Khanbandes completely stripped the boy nude, continuing the vicious assault. The traumatized minor managed to escape their clutches and flee through a narrow alley without any clothes. He later reported the incident to the Kalwa Police Station, where a complaint was filed, although initially only as an ordinary NC (Non-Cognizable) offense due to the victim’s failure to fully disclose the chilling details.
The situation took a turn when the video suddenly went viral on social media networks, capturing the attention of social activist Binu Varghese. Appalled by the incident, Varghese forwarded the video to senior officials in the Thane Police, prompting Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-I) Ganesh N. Gawade to call for an immediate FIR to be lodged.
On Wednesday, the Kalwa Police acted upon the teenage boy’s complaint and registered an FIR invoking the stringent sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Further investigations into the case are currently underway.
The delay of more than 20 hours in filing the FIR was attributed to the victim undergoing a medical check-up and receiving treatment before presenting himself at the police station.
This distressing incident sheds light on the importance of swift action to address such crimes, and emphasizes the necessity of safeguarding the wellbeing of minors in our society. The law enforcement agencies are expected to leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of justice and the successful capture of all individuals responsible for this heinous act.
(Note: This article has been developed based on available information and does not include information or comments from any involved parties. The investigation is ongoing, and further updates may follow.)
Keywords: Minor boy assault, Thane, Maharashtra, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, assault video, investigation, arrests, public outrage
