Bihar court pardons boy who stole to feed family amid lockdown

Bihar Sharif (Bihar), Apr 20 () A court in Bihar'sNalanda district has pardoned a 16-year-old boy, detained forsnatching a woman's purse, after it found that the accused hadstolen to feed his brother and mentally-challenged mother, whowere hungry for several days due to the nationwide lockdown.

Juvenile Justice Board Principal Magistrate ManavendraMishra also directed the officials concerned to ensure thatthe minor's family gets housing and ration under governmentschemes.

He also directed the police to submit the juvenile'sprogress report after four months.

"The boy had snatched the woman's purse at a market inIslampur police station area on April 17. He was identifiedthrough CCTV footage, detained and produced before the courtthe same day," an officer said.

The judgment was also pronounced on that day, he said.

The minor lives with his mother and brother in a smallthatched hut in Khatolna Bigaha village, the police officersaid.

After the court's directive, Islampur BlockDevelopment Officer (BDO) Priyadarshi Rajesh said he visitedthe boy's house and provided his family with food and otheressential commodities besides initiating the process to enablethem to avail government schemes. CORR ARACD ACD