Ten-year-old tribal girl tortured on suspicion of phone theft; burned with red hot iron rod

NELLORE: Neighbors tortured a 10-year-old tribal girl on suspicion of theft. She was burned with a hot iron rod. The attack on the child was carried out by the neighbours and her aunt on the suspicion that she had stolen a mobile phone.

The incident took place in Kudithipalem's Kakarla Dibba area under Indukurupet mandal, Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. Although the girl, Gandala Chenchamma, was forced to confess to the theft, it was later revealed that she was not involved in the crime. Chenchamma lived under the care of her maternal aunt, Sannari Manikyam. Chenchamma's mother, Venkataramamma, remarried and left her in her aunt’s care several years ago.

The locals alleged that the neighbours brutally tortured the girl, and burned her with a red hot iron rod or a ladle. The police said that the people who rushed to save the girl after hearing her cries and they found her with multiple burn marks and blisters on her face and her body. The girl was shifted to the Indukurupet Government Hospital for treatment. The police registered an FIR in the case. The police have arrested several people, including the girl's aunt.