Two schoolboys were allegedly tortured by a Union Parishad member, his associate, and an uncle of one of the victims reportedly for stealing pigeons at Chhota Bashail village in Agailjhara upazila on Friday.

The victims are Sagar Bepari, 10, a class-V student of Chhota Bashail Govt Primary School, and Tushar Sikdar, 14, a grade-VII student of Bashail Secondary School.

Locals and police said Monir and Nasir, members of Village Defence Police, led by Barkat Ullah, member of Rajihar union ward-4, tied up the boys to a coconut tree and beat them up in front of Monir's house.

On information, families of the victims rushed to the spot and rescued them, they added.

Sagar was admitted to Agailjhara Upazila Health Complex. Tushar received first aid there.

Rowshan Ara, Sagar's mother, said her son had been living with her father since her second marriage. Rowshan was not sure about filing a case against her brother, locals said.

Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge Agailjhara police, said he had instructed his men to detain the suspects. The victims' families were reluctant to file a case as they were relatives, he added.

Barkat Ullah denied his involvement and claimed the boys were “physically punished for their misbehaviour” by their relative Monir and Nasir.