Two sent to prison for beating boys

Theni, Dec 18 (PTI) A local court in south Indian
state of Tamil Nadu has awarded six months imprisonment to a
father and son for allegedly beating three dalit boys near
here two years back, officials said.
Observing their act as a cruelty, Principal District
Judge, Sivanandha Jothi, also imposed a fine of Rs 1000 each
on Nausham Hussaid (20) and his father Syed Diwan (55)
on Friday.
According to the police Syed and Hussaid had beaten the
teenaged boys thinking that they were trying to steal tomatoes
from their garden on January 28, 2008.
However, the boys said in their complaint that they had
gone to the garden to attend to nature's call but were
attacked with sticks by the duo.
With wounds all over their back and chest, they were
admitted to a local hospital for treatment.
A parent of one of the three boys later lodged a
complaint with the police under Protection of Civil rights,
and Prevention of Atrocities and ST Act based on which both
Nausham and Diwan got punishment.
The court also directed the Adidravidar welfare
Department to grant the boys a solatium of Rs 25,000 for their
study expense. PTI LGK
SMT