All four have been arrested following the incident, in which the children suffered injuries in Tukaramgate area yesterday, they said.
Venkat Swami, the history-sheeter, his wife and two associates confined the minors and allegedly thrashed them with plastic pipes. The provocation was that the children had teased Swami's wife, a police officer said.
"They were arrested last evening following a complaint and sent to judicial remand," Tukaramgate Police Station Inspector T Laxminarayana said.
A case under IPC Sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 324 (causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 506 (criminal intimidation) has been registered against them, he said.