Three boys detained on charges of stone pelting by Baramulla police suffered injury during a scuffle allegedly between them inside police lockup on Monday, police said.
The injured were identified as Shahid Manzoor, Anees-ul-Islam and Basit sheikh, all residents of old town Baramulla.
The injured were rushed to the Baramulla district hospital, where they were provided medical aid and were later discharged from the hospital.
Earlier, rumours spread in the town that the three detained boys had consumed some poisonous substance inside the police lockup. However, police immediately refuted such rumours.
“The three stone pelting youth locked up on court remand fought with each other and got injured. They were given medical aid at the Baramulla hospital and are stable,” said Imtiyaz Hussain, SSP Baramulla.
Meanwhile, the family members of the detained boys said they had themselves handed them over to Baramulla police after the latter had sought their presence at the police station. However, over ten days have passed since, yet they have not been released.
“Our kin have not been arrested but we handed over them to the police after the latter sought their presence at the police station. But, they have not been released yet. We fear the authorities may slap PSA on them, so in a fit of anger they have taken some extreme step,” said parents of one of the detained boys.
Meanwhile, hospital authorities confirmed to this reporter that the boys had suffered some minor injury and none of them had consumed any poisonous substance.
“They were discharged after first aid was given to them. They have suffered some minor injury. The rumours about consuming any poisonous substance are baseless,” said Dr Masood, medical superintendent Baramulla district hospital.