Nawada, Civil Surgeon, Sabitri Sharma too denied that any sharp weapon had been used to pierce the eyes of the three. She said that though the eyes of all of them were injured, the right eyeball of Pinku was hanging out, attached to an optical nerve. “All of them have been sent to Patna for treatment”, she added.

The second incident was reported from Nawada town. Shankar, alias Muthhu (12), working in the grocery shop of Shahulal, was allegedly caught red handed stealing detergent packets along with an accomplice, Budhna (13), on Monday morning. Local shopkeepers and others reportedly immediately started punching the two, followed by kicks. Muthhu and Budhna were later paraded through the market with their heads partly shaved.

No FIR in connection with the “theft” has however been lodged by shopowner Shahulal, perhaps fearing that he might himself land in a soup for employing child labour. Nawada town Police Station in-charge Arun Kumar said that an FIR has been lodged for assault on minors against shopkeepers Shahulal, Baidy-anath Shah ad Jitendra Shah. Shahulal is absconding.