A routine afternoon turned tragic for a migrant family in Bengaluru after a 12-year-old boy died while inside a water sump near his family’s temporary shelter at Bellahalli village near Yelahanka.

The victim, Ariful Islam, was the son of migrant scrap collectors from Assam. The incident occurred on June 4 and has led to a police investigation into alleged negligence and possible child labour violations.

Boy allegedly asked to enter sump

According to a complaint filed by his father, Nur Bokto Miah, Ariful was playing with his younger brother, Shorifullah, when two women allegedly approached the children and handed them a bucket, asking Ariful to enter the sump and fetch water.

A short while later, Shorifullah reportedly ran back to their shed crying and calling for help. When Miah rushed to the spot, he found Ariful floating face down inside the sump, which contained around 1.5 to 2 feet of water.

Labourers from nearby sheds joined the rescue effort and rushed the boy to a nearby clinic before he was shifted to Yelahanka Government Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

Electrocution suspected

Family members and local residents suspected that the child may have suffered an electric shock. Witnesses alleged that a wire connected to a water motor was removed from the spot before the boy was taken out.

Police said the postmortem examination revealed entry and exit wounds on the child’s body, indicating that electrocution was likely the cause of death.

Case registered

In his complaint, Miah accused the property owner, Syed Imran Ali, his wife and daughter of negligence. He alleged that the child was asked to enter the sump without adequate safety precautions.

The Bagalur police have registered a case under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to causing death by negligence, along with provisions of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act.

Police arrested the house owner and later released him on bail after issuing a notice to cooperate with the investigation.

Family seeks justice

The victim’s family, which survives by collecting and selling scrap materials, has demanded strict action against those responsible. Police said investigations are continuing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident