A seven-year-old boy was tied to a tree and tortured over allegation of thievery in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia yesterday afternoon.

Jewel, 7, used to work at a shop in front of Lalon Shah's shrine, reports our Kushtia correspondent.

Around 3:30pm yesterday, Meru Miah and Tanjel from Cheuria village picked him up, tied him to a tree and beat him up, said Abdul Khaleq, officer-in-charge of Kumarkhali Police Station.

Meru and Tanjel tortured the boy after the latter’s mother-in-law Rokeya provoked them suspecting Jewel of snatching her mobile phone, the OC said.

Jewel was taken to Kushtia general hospital where he was given first aid, said Tapos Kumar Sarkar, resident medical officer of the hospital.

Jewel’s brother Rubel filed a case against three including Meru and Tanjel with Kumarkhali police station at night.

Two accused -- Tanjel and Rokeya -- were arrested from their houses but Meru went into hiding soon after the incident, the OC added.

Kushtia chief judicial magistrate sent the arrestees to jail after police produced them before the court this afternoon.