Ramechhap, May 16:

Police personnel at the Sanghutar police post in Ramechhap district allegedly tortured four boys for theft.

Locals caught hold of two local boys, Bishnu Pradhan, 14, and Nirmal Pradhan, 14, while they were allegedly stealing property from the house of businessman Kumar Subedi in Sanghutar last night. Two other accused, Sher Bahadur Jogi, 18, and Dhan Bahadur Sunuwar, 19, were also beaten up in police custody.

The police released all four after relatives of the foursome deposited a total of Rs 8,000. Each of the four also agreed to carry 1,000 kg of sand for the construction of a building of the Himganga higher secondary school.

A local, Suresh Jung Pakhrin, said the funds deposited by relatives for the release of the four boys will be refunded once the boys supply sand. According to Pakhrin, Jogi is a cook at the police post. Sunuwar had worked as a cook at the police post.

Local businessmen said property worth Rs 1 lakh was stolen from Subedi’s house.

The two boys said a local had encouraged them to take to stealing.

DSP Khinu Prasad Acharya claimed that the four were not subjected to torture. He said Rs 2000 was collected from relatives of the each of the four boys and a decision to make them ferry sand for the school was taken owing to pressure from local businessmen.