An 11-year-old boy was allegedly beaten and forced to consume alcohol by two men—an act that was captured on video and has since gone viral, triggering widespread outrage.
The incident, which occurred nearly a month ago, came to light only after the boy’s father, Jagabandhu Swain, stumbled upon the video while browsing social media. Upon confronting his son, a Class VII student, the child admitted to the abuse and revealed that he had remained silent due to threats from the perpetrators.
According to the complaint filed with Kujang police, the boy was intercepted by the accused—Manoranjan Samantray and Susant Das alias Kuna—while relieving himself in a field. The intoxicated men lured him into an under-construction house, blindfolded him, and forced him to drink beer. When he resisted, they beat him with sticks.
Police have confirmed the authenticity of the video and arrested Manoranjan Samantray. The second accused remains at large, with authorities assuring that he will be apprehended soon. The incident has prompted calls for stronger child protection measures and swift justice.
