Kochi: A 17-year-old boy, belonging to a group of teenagers who allegedly thrashed a minor last week for informing their parents about their drug abuse, was found hanging dead in his house at Kalamassery here on Monday, police said.
Local people alleged he took the extreme step due to the torture by the police after taking the group into custody in connection with the assault.
Rejecting the allegations, the police said they actually rescued the group from angry locals who came to know of the cruelty meted out to the minor boy. Police further said the parents of the group were summoned to the station after learning they all were juveniles.
Police said they suspect the 17-year-old was beaten up by the relatives of the minor, who was hospitalised with serious injuries.
A video captured by one in the group showed the victim being punched, beaten and made to sit on chips of metal and the clipping emerged in the social media. While one member of the group, aged above 18, was arrested and let off on station bail, six others between 14 and 17 years old were released after collecting their antecedents for submission before the district Child Welfare Committee (CWC). The CWC has begun an inquiry into the incident.
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