Migrant boy's death in Bengaluru: Family alleges murder, seeks KSCPCR probe

The family of a 12-year-old migrant boy who died under suspicious circumstances in Bengaluru's Bagalur area has approached the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR), alleging murder, police inaction, harassment, and threats by the accused.

In a petition submitted to the Commission, Noor Bakhtiyar Miyah, a native of Assam who recently migrated to Bengaluru with his family for work, sought justice for his son Ariful Islam, who died on June 4. According to the complaint, Ariful was allegedly forced by residents living behind the family's settlement in Bellahalli to draw water from a tank. When the boy refused, one of the accused allegedly pushed him into the tank and switched on a water pump. The family alleged that the tank lid was then closed, resulting in the child's death. Ariful's nine-year-old brother, Shariful Islam, is said to have witnessed the entire incident.

The family claimed that when they rushed to the spot after being alerted by Shariful, they found Ariful floating face down inside the tank. He was taken to a nearby clinic and later shifted to a government hospital, where he was declared dead.

The petition alleges that police personnel from the Bagalur Police Station behaved insensitively towards the grieving family, repeatedly referring to them as “Bangladeshis” and “illegal immigrants”. The complainant further alleged that the police officers used abusive language, discouraged them from pursuing the case, and pressured them to complete the burial quickly. The family also alleged that police assaulted Noor's brother-in-law, Apis Islam, for recording the spot mahazar proceedings and confiscated his mobile phone.

An FIR was registered under Sections 106 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 14 of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. However, the family contended that the inclusion of child labour provisions was erroneous and diverted attention from what they described as a deliberate act of violence leading to the child's death.

The petition named Syed Imran Ali, Ghousiya Parveen, and their daughter Saniya Ali as the accused. The family alleged that Syed Imran Ali forcibly made the child perform work and retaliated violently when he refused. The complainant further alleged that despite detaining the accused, the police released them without making arrests.

Following the child's burial on June 5, the family claimed that local rowdies and associates of the accused entered their residence, pressured them to settle the matter, offered money, and attempted to obtain their thumb impressions on documents. Fearing for their safety, the family claimed to have relocated from the settlement to Electronics City.

The family has requested the KSCPCR to ensure protection for nine-year-old Shariful Islam, the sole eyewitness to the incident, who is reportedly suffering severe psychological trauma after witnessing his brother's death. The petition also sought directions for an expedited investigation, copies of all case-related documents, police protection for the family, and independent monitoring of the probe by the Commission. The family alleged that language barriers and their status as migrant workers had resulted in discrimination and denial of justice.

The KSCPCR is yet to announce its decision on the representation. The case highlights the vulnerabilities of migrant workers and the challenges they face in accessing justice, particularly when language and socio-economic status create barriers.