‘Maa mai chor nahi hu’: 12-Year-Old Boy Dies After Public Humiliation Over Chips Packet in West Bengal
A 12-year-old boy in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district has died after allegedly being humiliated in public over a suspected theft of a packet of chips. The Class 7 student, identified as Krishnendu, reportedly consumed pesticide following the incident.
According to the police, the boy had gone to Gosaiber Bazar to purchase chips but found no one at the shop. His mother stated that he called out to the shopkeeper, saying he would take the chips and pay, but got no response. Believing the store unattended, he picked up a packet and left.
Soon after, shopkeeper Subhankar Dikshit returned, chased the boy, slapped him, and allegedly forced him to do sit-ups in front of others. A police officer said that the boy attempted to explain he found the packet outside and had planned to pay for it later, but the shopkeeper accused him of lying.
The shopkeeper then called the boy’s mother, who also scolded and slapped him. Despite the child’s repeated apologies and offers to pay, he continued to face accusations and public shaming.
After returning home with his mother, the boy locked himself in his room. When he failed to respond, family members and neighbours broke open the door and found him unconscious with foam around his mouth and a partially empty pesticide bottle nearby.
Police have registered a case and are investigating the matter.
