SHEIKHUPURA: A callous landlord on Saturday allegedly threw a 10-year-old boy into fire on suspicion of setting his wheat crop ablaze at Sikhan Wali village, causing the child serious burns.

Police claimed to have arrested the suspect, Qayyum and his accomplices Younas, after Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the incident.

According to locals, Qayyum’s wheat crop was damaged after fireworks allegedly ignited by some children landed in the fields.

Enraged by the loss, the landlord nabbed Farhad, son of a labourer, and ignoring the child’s pleas threw him into the fire, causing him serious burns.

The injured child was admitted to the local trauma centre where doctors say he suffered 40 percent burns and his condition was critical.

According to the boy’s family, the staff at Manawala police station initially ignored the incident but later registered a case and arrested the suspect and his accomplice after the chief minister took notice of the brutality, ordering a probe.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2015

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