The Ayodhya police allegedly kept a minor boy in illegal custody and subjected him to torture so that he owns up to a theft in a mobile phone shop.

According to the neighbours, Rohit (15) was illegally detained at Kotwali police since July 29. He was also given electric shocks. On Wednesday evening, when he fell unconscious, he was taken to the district hospital. The police on Thursday, however, claimed to have shifted him to CSMMU, Lucknow.

The neighbours tried to meet Rohit on Thursday, but the police denied access. Radhey Shyam Yadav, a former member of the district board, said four-days before Rohit was picked up, the police had detained his father Ram Dev and tortured him at Darshan Nagar police outpost.

According to Yadav, Rohit, who was then in Mumbai, came home on July 29. As soon as the police released Ram Dev, they picked up Rohit. The police then asked Ram Dev to bring Rs 30,000 if he wanted his son to be released. But he failed to arrange for the money.

Yadav alleged that Rohit’s father and the other family members were missing since Wednesday evening.

According to sources, before taking him to the district hospital, the police took him to some private hospitals in Faizabad and tried to get him treated under a fictitious name.

Faizabad Senior Superintendent of Police RKS Rathore said he had instituted an inquiry to be conducted by ASP Gyaneshwar Tiwari.

According to Rathore, a medical board constituted by the Chief Medical Officer examined Rohit on Thursday and found that he was suffering from viral fever. He suggested that Rohit should be sent to CSMMU for further check-up.

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