Hostel caretaker arrested for branding boy

Police said Ratchagadas (24), also the caretaker of St Joseph’s Boys Hostel in Kovalam, recently lost his cellphone and after inquiring with the students, he believed that Chinnapparaj Leo (12), a Class 6 student in the school, had stolen the phone. 

Ratchagadas reportedly branded Chinnapparaj Leo on the hands using a hot iron rod on April 13. The boy informed his father Leo of the incident. Leo, who hails from Kandhanchavadi, rushed to the hostel and brought his son to Chennai after submitting a complaint to the hostel authorities. After his son underwent treatment, Leo went to the hostel again to inquire about the action taken. As he did not get a proper reply, he lodged a complaint at the Kelambakkam police station. Based on it, police booked a case against Ratchagadas and arrested him.