A deeply troubling video from Ratlam has surfaced, showing a 16-year-old boy assaulting three young children, aged 6, 9, and 11, while forcing them to chant a religious slogan.
The video, recorded about a month and a half ago, has sparked widespread outrage after it recently began circulating online.
In the video, the teenager can be seen repeatedly hitting the terrified children with a slipper, verbally abusing them, and accusing them of smoking cigarettes. He also demands the phone numbers of their relatives while the children, visibly distressed, cry and shield their faces, pledging not to repeat their alleged actions.
The incident reportedly took place near an under-construction amusement park close to Amritsagar Pond in Ratlam.
The victims, residents of the city's Manakchowk area, endured the ordeal as another teenager, a 14-year-old boy, filmed the act.
The video’s circulation led to public outrage, culminating in a large crowd gathering outside a local police station on Thursday night to demand swift action.
Police promptly registered a case against the two teenagers involved, charging them with assault, issuing threats, abuse, and actions that hurt religious sentiments.
Both have since been taken into custody, and the police have assured the public that appropriate legal action will be taken.
Authorities have deployed additional personnel to maintain order in the area and ensure the safety of all parties involved. The incident has raised significant concerns about the safety and well-being of children and the misuse of social media to amplify such harmful acts.