Rayagada police arrest 3, detain 3 juveniles for burying boy in sand, filming incident

Koraput: Police in Rayagada district arrested three persons and detained three juveniles on Thursday evening for allegedly burying a 11-year-old boy in sand up to his neck and filming the act and circulating on social media.

The arrested accused have been identified as Aju Sabar, 24, Mitu Sabar, 22, and Shuklang Sabar, 23. The detained juveniles are aged between 15 and 17 years. The accused have been booked under Section 109 of BNS (attempt to murder).


The incident took place on the evening of Jan 25 but came to light on Tuesday after a video went viral online, triggering widespread outrage.

Police said the boy was buried up to his neck in a sand heap near the Sananadi river while the accused mocked him and recorded his plight on their mobile phones. “The child was pleading and struggling to survive as the accused laughed and filmed the incident,” said IIC of Gunupur police station, K K B K Kanhar.

The victim was allegedly threatened with similar treatment if he disclosed the incident to anyone. After a long time, the accused released him only after he promised to remain silent. The IIC said had the minor not been rescued in time, he could have suffocated to death.

The victim, a Class VI student, resides at his maternal uncle’s house. Family members said he returned home around 10 that night, crying and visibly traumatised.

The boy’s father alleged that the accused had gone in a tractor to collect sand from near the river. “They asked my son to lift sand. When he refused and protested, they got angry and buried him in the sand,” he said.

After the video went viral, the boy’s parents lodged a complaint on Wednesday.

“Based on the viral video and the complaint, the six accused were apprehended. Three of them are minors and will be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board. A detailed investigation is underway,” Kanhar said.

The victim’s statement was recorded at a Gunupur court under Section 183 of BNS.