Bengaluru: A 10-year-old boy was found dead under mysterious circumstances inside Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC) factory premises in Somasundarapalya, HSR Layout, on Thursday.
Police have identified the deceased as M. Narasimhamurthy, a resident of Somasundarapalya. He was reportedly a school drop-out and used to work at KCDC. He is survived by six siblings and mother, M. Varalakshmi, who works as a maid. The mother has accused KCDC employees of beating her son to death as he went near machines. The HSR Layout police, who have taken up the case, are questioning four KCDC employees in this connection.
Around 30 locals residents gathered at the spot and protested against KCDC employees and site engineer over the death of the boy. Angry locals, terming it as murder also demanded the immediate arrest of the engineer and shutting down of the plant. According to the police, the death came to light after one of the neighbours spotted the boy’s body lying in a pool of blood inside the KCDC compound and immediately informed Varalakshmi. She rushed to the spot only to find her 10-year-old son dead.
DCP (south-east) Rohini Katoch Sepat told DC, “It looks like he was playing near crushing machine used for recycling waste when his hand got accidentally stuck into the machine. The police have initiated a probe into the death and are carrying an internal inquiry in this regard. The police are waiting for autopsy report as there are some physical injuries found on the body.”
Meanwhile, upon receiving the news of minor’s death, the Bommanahalli MLA M. Sathish Reddy rushed to the spot and tried pacifying the furious locals. Mr Reddy announced Rs 2 lakh compensation to the kin of the deceased.
BBMP Special Commissioner Darpan Jain, also visited the spot around late evening to take stock of the situation. The HSR Layout police are investigating into the matter to ascertain as to how the boy gained entry into the factory.
