Police Brutality

Hyderabad, July 3: A deeply disturbing case of alleged police brutality has come to light in Hyderabad, where an 8th class student was reportedly beaten by police officers in Jubilee Hills last December, leaving him permanently disabled. The incident, though months old, continues to haunt the boy’s family as they struggle to seek justice.

By Naveed Uddin Khan Uzair

According to the boy’s family, the incident occurred in December 2024, when the child was making a social media reel in a public area of Jubilee Hills. Following a complaint by a bystander, local police reportedly responded with disproportionate force. The officers allegedly beat the boy with sticks on his legs, causing severe injuries. As a result of the beating, both his legs have reportedly stopped functioning, rendering him bedridden and disabled.

Since the incident, the child has been undergoing treatment at Osmania General Hospital. His family members now have to carry him to and from the hospital regularly. “He was just a child making a reel, and for that, they beat him so badly that he couldn’t walk anymore,” said his father. “They’ve destroyed his childhood.”

The family has alleged gross negligence and excessive force on the part of the police, and said that repeated complaints to senior officials have gone unanswered. A formal complaint has also been submitted to the Human Rights Commission, but no action has been taken so far. The parents have made repeated appeals for justice and for disciplinary action against the police officers involved, but say their cries have fallen on deaf ears.

“This is not just an abuse of power; it’s a shameful incident that has left a child handicapped for life. And the fact that no action has been taken yet, even after 8 months, is deeply regrettable,” said a local activist who is helping the family take the matter forward.

A video showing the boy lying immobile on a bed has begun circulating on social media, sparking outrage and calls for justice. His only “mistake,” as many pointed out, was recording a video for social media.

So far, no official response has been issued by the Jubilee Hills police or the Hyderabad Police Commissionerate. The silence from authorities has further fuelled public anger.

The incident raises serious concerns about police accountability and the treatment of minors by law enforcement. Rights groups and civil society activists are demanding an impartial investigation and swift action against those responsible.

If proven true, this would be a clear violation of the child’s human rights and a tragic example of how unchecked power can ruin innocent lives. The child’s parents continue to fight for justice, hoping that their pleas will eventually reach someone in power willing to act.

Opinion: Police Brutality on a Child in Jubilee Hills Is a Stark Reminder of Systemic Failure

The harrowing case of an 8th class student allegedly beaten into disability by the police in Hyderabad’s Jubilee Hills in December 2024 is not just a story of police excess — it’s a shameful reminder of how systems meant to protect the people can turn into their worst nightmares, especially for the most vulnerable.

A 13- or 14-year-old boy was reportedly beaten so severely on his legs that he lost the ability to walk. His only “crime”? Making a social media reel — something millions of teenagers do every day across the world. And yet, in a matter of moments, a young boy’s future was stripped away by those who were supposed to uphold the law.

What’s even more disturbing is what followed — or rather, what didn’t. There was no suspension. No FIR. No public acknowledgment. Complaints to senior officials and even the Human Rights Commission have gone unanswered. This silence is not just administrative indifference — it borders on institutional complicity.

Had the victim been the child of someone powerful or wealthy, would the response have been the same? The answer, painfully obvious, reflects the deep-rooted inequality in how justice is served. The boy is now being carried to the hospital by his parents, while those responsible continue in uniform, untouched and unaccountable.

This should have been national news. It should have sparked protests, judicial inquiries, and headlines demanding justice. Instead, it’s buried — ignored by the very system that should have come to the child’s aid. The Hyderabad Police, which often prides itself on modernization and reform, must answer how such medieval brutality was allowed to happen under its watch.

If we, as a society, continue to allow this kind of impunity, then we have failed — not just this child, but every other child who will grow up fearing the very people meant to protect them.

Strict action must be taken. A criminal case should be registered against all officers involved. The child deserves not only justice, but rehabilitation, compensation, and dignity. And above all, we must ensure this never happens again.

(Views expressed in this article are the author’s alone.)