3 kids beaten up for plucking mangoes from orchard

LUCKNOW: With their mouths stuffed with mangoes, three children were allegedly tied to a tree and beaten severely as punishment for plucking mangoes in Maharajganj.

The incident came to light when a video of the ordeal went viral on Thursday, prompting the arrest of Sudarshan Kumar, the orchard caretaker.

According to police, Neetish (6), Balbir (5), and Ansh (4) had ventured into the mango orchard under the jurisdiction of Chauk police station on July 11 to pick mangoes.

"When the orchard’s caretaker caught them stealing the fruits, he tied them to a tree using a rope and subjected them to a brutal assault, including force-feeding mangoes," stated SP Somendra Meena of Maharajganj.

A bystander captured the harrowing incident on video and shared it on social media, leading to outrage.

Anita, the mother of Neetish, lodged a formal complaint with the police against Sudarshan and two accomplices, said SHO Prashant Kumar Pathak.