Apropos to the news item which appeared in local dailies on the assault of 3 minors by police personnel and the owner of a restaurant, I would like to clarify that the whole story and circumstances has been twisted and conjured to vindicate the case of the three children.
The case seems partial since only the children’s side of the story was heard and reported.
I, being a mother myself do not have the heart or the motive to torture children in any circumstances whatsoever. Being an animal lover, I have two dogs under my care, of which one was stolen and I look to it that they are taken care of properly and well looked after.
The children are regular visitors to my restaurant and my residence to collect garbage. I provide them tips in cash and kind on a regular basis and trust that they would do their work properly.
The incident of my dog being stolen came to my knowledge in the later part of Friday, and since the boys came regularly to my residence, I queried them generally as one of the neighbouring helpers saw the dog being petted by one of the boys. That roused my suspicion since the children always came to pick the garbage after 6 pm, but on that particular evening, they came around 4 pm.
Also, contrary to reports that the children were made to admit of the robbery, I would like to clarify that before they were beaten up, one of the boys confessed to stealing the dog and putting the pup in a box before filling it up with garbage. They were just questioned until they tried to run away which made some of the public beat them.
Later on, I handed the children over to East Police Station where they confessed that they had kept the dog in their house. The children then took them to their neighbourhood which was located at Assam-Nagaland border. However, on reaching the location, the children again changed their earlier statement and in turn took the police for a ride.
In regard to the injury on one of the boy’s toe, it was inflicted upon himself while trying to run away. The dog bite was not instigated by me, it was an incident. My dogs never attacked them before as they came every night to collect garbage. I even send one of the innocent boys to the parents to inform them that they were well and to come and talk to me.
Again, contrary to reports that they were fed properly and given beds to sleep on when they stayed in my residence. Infact, even the next morning I gave money to buy themselves food in a nearby provision store. The intention of them staying in the house was never to torture or assault them but to find the truth. The children confessed to stealing the dog and selling it off even in the police station. I was in no way trying to breach the laws and trying to assault children for any ulterior motives but to find an amicable solution and recover my pet at the earliest.
I would also like to question the authorities concern looking after the children why they are not concerned on issues of child labor. There are strict laws against that too but are they even bothered that they have been working late into the night breaching that same law themselves! How about the many cases these days where minors are often caught for various petty crimes and robbery? Because they have been left unattended and uncared for despite many organisations claiming to stand for “Child Rights”, they are again led into these crimes.
I think the focus on the case has been deviated and instead of guiding the children on the right direction, the sole intention of “blame game” has started once again.
L. Sema
Proprietor of the lounge
