In a heartbreaking incident, a 15-year-old Muslim boy was allegedly hanged to death after he and his younger siblings were harassed in Beed district of Maharashtra.
The incident came to light on Wednesday. The deceased, Hafiz Murtaza Shaikh, his 13-year-old sister and 12-year-old brother had gone to collect firewood.
According to an FIR lodged by Hafiz’s father, his three children were passing through a field owned by Pintu, who is named as one of the accused.
In the past, Pintu had warned the family several times not to venture nearby his field.
On April 18, the children were surrounded by Pintu and two other associates. They started harassing and beating the children. Hafiz and the three men entered into a scuffle. Hafiz shouted at his siblings to run for their lives.
Somehow, the younger siblings managed to escape and get help for their brother. However, when they returned it was too late as Hafiz’s lifeless body was found hanging from a lemon tree.
Siasat.com contacted the office of Beed’s Superintendent of Police Nand Kumar Thakur who informed that’ll three men have been arrested. He also said that Hafiz’s autopsy report stated the teenager died by hanging.
Amid reports that the crime was motivated by religious hatred, police denied it. “It is too early to comment on the case. The investigation is still in its initial stages,” Siasat.com was told.
