Hyderabad: 12-year-old boy set ablaze by father for not taking his studies seriously

A 12-year-old boy was set of fire by his father for not taking his studies seriously and not taking part in online classes succumbed to his injuries at Hyderabad government hospital on Thursday, police said.

According to police, victim’s father R Balu had set him ablaze on Sunday at their shanty in a private school campus in Kukatpally Housing Board Colony under Cyberabad police commissionerate. Balu's wife worked as an attendant at the school.

A police officer stated that Balu first beat up the Class 6 student over his educational activities even as the boy's mother tried in vain to save him. An infuriated Balu then poured turpentine oil on Charan and set him on fire.

The victim then ran out of the house, where local residents put out the flames and rushed him to a nearby hospital. Police later took Balu into their custody.

As maintained by police the boy was rescued in 2019 under 'Operation Smile' while he was working at a bike-repair shop, following which police had counselled his parents.

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