Ranchi: A nine-year-old boy spent three months in a Ranchi jail for having stolen toffees from a shop.
Pinku, who was released by the special Lok Adalat Saturday, said: "I had stolen 10 toffees along with four of my friends. I got two toffees as my share. We were arrested on the complaint of the shopkeeper and kept in a juvenile home."
He says he is now eager to study.
The boy was among 59 children released by the special Lok Adalat.
Lakshu Oraon, 12, was also in jail for six months for stealing five kg of electric wire. Chotu Oraon, another minor, was released after four months. His crime was stealing 10 kg of wheat.
After his release Chotu said: "There was no food in my home and this made me steal the wheat from a shop. I want to work, but no one gives me a job."
Poverty and lack of job opportunities often forces minors into petty crimes. In Jharkhand, 52 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line.
The state produces only half of the food grains it needs.
Comments
0 comment