Minor boy handcuffed by police; activists criticise

A 10-year-old boy was handcuffed by police while being taken to a juvenile remand home after a court hearing here today, drawing criticism from child and human rights activists.
The boy, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, was nabbed in a theft case in Medak district a few days ago. He was later sent to a juvenile observation home in adjoining Nizamabad district.
This morning Nizamabad Police brought the boy to the Sangareddy Court for a hearing in the case. The minor was caught on camera in handcuffs when he was being taken back to the remand home in Nizamabad in a Road Transport Corp bus.

A few local channels aired video footage of the handcuffed boy seated next to what they claimed was a policeman in plainclothes.
Criticising the police over the minor's handcuffing, child and human rights activists said the act was in violation of Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Rules, 2007, and also directives of the Supreme Court, which allows handcuffing in only certain cases involving adult accused.