Five-year-old tied to a tree for stealing cigarettes

A five-year-old boy was tied to a tree and allegedly assaulted for stealing a packet of cigarettes from a local shop at Madan upazila in Netrokona on Monday. According to local sources, hawker Shanto Munshi tied the five-year-old Mazharul, son of Azharul, to a tree after he was caught with a packet of cigarette in his hand. He also assaulted Mazharul publicly. Later, a picture of tied Mazharul went viral on Facebook. However, Shanto claimed: "I tied Mazharul to a tree as he stole a packet of cigarettes from my shop. I did not assault him.” Md Mazedur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Madan police station, said a police team was sent to the spot after being informed about the incident, but no one was found there. Police are looking into the matter, he added.