In a shocking case from Jharkhand, a man was arrested for allegedly tying a seven-year-old boy to a tree and brutally thrashing him on suspicion of theft, police confirmed on Sunday. The arrest came after a short video clip purportedly showing the assault went viral on social media, sparking public outrage.

The 20-second clip, which could not be independently verified by PTI, showed the minor with his hands and legs bound, being physically assaulted and forced to stand semi-naked in a humiliating posture. The footage prompted immediate attention from law enforcement and public authorities in Ramgarh district.

The incident reportedly occurred on January 9 in Diesel Colony, under the jurisdiction of the Patratu police station. The accused has been identified as Bablu Prasad, also known as Tikadhari. Police said he was apprehended on Saturday and has since been sent to judicial custody.

Shivlal Gupta, Officer-in-Charge of Patratu police station, said, “We have arrested the main accused, Bablu Prasad, after analysing the viral video and sent him to judicial custody on Saturday.” He added that authorities are continuing to investigate and are working to identify and apprehend other individuals involved in the assault.

An FIR has been registered under multiple provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), based on a formal complaint lodged by the victim’s elder brother. According to the complainant, Prasad, along with two other individuals from the same locality, intercepted the boy and accused him of stealing money before tying him to a tree and assaulting him.

Police officials are currently investigating the incident to ascertain the full extent of the involvement of other suspects and the circumstances leading to the violent act. The case has raised concerns about child safety and the rapid spread of graphic content on social media, which, while bringing attention to such incidents, also raises questions about verification and the potential for misinformation.

The local community has reportedly expressed outrage over the incident, demanding swift justice. Authorities have assured that stringent action will be taken against all individuals responsible for the assault.

This case adds to a worrying trend of child abuse incidents being circulated on social media, highlighting the dual role of such platforms in both reporting crimes and spreading unverified content. Experts and child protection advocates have called for strengthened monitoring and rapid intervention mechanisms to prevent such acts and ensure the safety of minors.

The Patratu police continue to urge anyone with additional information related to the assault to come forward and cooperate with the investigation. As the case unfolds, authorities have pledged to ensure that all accused parties face appropriate legal action under the law.