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A 10-year-old girl from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community was repeatedly burnt on suspicion of stealing a mobile phone from a neighbour in Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday, June 21. In a video shared with the media, the child, identified as Chenchamma, can be seen crying as she recounts how her face was burnt with a hot ladle despite her repeated protests of innocence.
“I kept saying that I did not steal the phone but they didn’t listen,” she said.
After the incident, neighbours rushed the child to a hospital for medical care. Police have arrested five individuals in connection with the case and sent them to judicial custody.
The accused have been named as Chalama Nagaraju, Subamma, Bandi Srinivasulu, Charmudamma, and the child’s maternal aunt, Manika Mannari. All reside in the Scheduled Tribe Colony in Kuditepalem Kakarla Dibba of Nellore district.
Speaking to TNM, Sub-Inspector Nagaraju explained that the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was not invoked since the accused belong to the same community as the victim. A case has been registered under Sections 120 (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to extort a confession or compel restoration of property) and 109 (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 75 (punishment for cruelty to children) of the Juvenile Justice Act.
“The child is currently admitted to Apollo Hospital in Nellore. Doctors expect a full recovery within a week,” Nagaraju added.
Chenchamma was left in the care of her aunt a year ago when her parents left for Tirupati in search of employment. “The parents are currently unreachable. If they remain so or are unable to care for Chenchamma, custody will be transferred to the State Child Welfare Committee,” Nagaraju said.