A 14-year-old boy was allegedly tortured after being accused of stealing iron rods in Madhukhali upazila of Faridpur, with his hands, feet, eyes and mouth reportedly tied during the assault.

The victim Towhid Sheikh is now undergoing treatment at Faridpur Medical College Hospital.

Towhid, the eldest son of Rubel Sheikh of Char Kurania area in Naopara Union, works at a furniture shop in a local market.

Family members said the incident took place on Sunday night when Towhid was returning home from his work.

They alleged that local mill owner and former army member Esharot Molla, 55, and his son Munna Molla, 22, took Towhid to the roof of the mill around 9pm and tortured him until midnight.

The family said the boy's hands, feet and eyes were tied with rope and he was questioned about allegedly stealing iron rods. When he denied the allegation, the accused allegedly beat him with an iron pipe. His mouth was also tied with a cloth when he tried to scream, they said.

Family members found Towhid injured around 12:30am and took him home. He was taken to Faridpur Medical College Hospital the following morning since his condition deteriorated.

When visited at the hospital on Tuesday afternoon, Towhid was receiving treatment in the casualty and neurosurgery departments. His family members said he was in severe pain and unable to sit.

Towhid told reporters that he had been tied up and beaten for about three hours after being taken to the mill's roof.

His grandmother, Rahima Begum, alleged that Towhid had never stolen anything and demanded a fair investigation and punishment for those responsible.

She said the family had initially approached local elders for justice but received no effective response.

Towhid's father, Rubel Sheikh, alleged that the accused had also threatened the family after the incident.

"Isharot Molla told us that he had beaten my son and would kill us too if we complained," he alleged.

Ishaoat Molla, however, admitted that Towhid had been beaten but claimed the boy had been stealing goods from the area.

He alleged that Towhid had stolen a rod from his house and that he caught the boy on the mill's roof on Sunday night.

"I slapped him along with my son and two nephews. Out of humanity, I did not report him to the police. Now I think it would have been better to hand him over to the police," Isharot said.

Sukdev Roy, officer-in-charge (OC) of Madhukhali Police Station, said police had not received any complaint regarding the alleged torture.

"However, if such an incident occurred and the family files a complaint, legal action will be taken against those responsible," he said.