NAGPUR: A four-year-old boy suffered serious burn injuries after a 60-year-old relative allegedly threw boiling water on him during Holi celebrations in Koradi on Tuesday.
The accused, identified as Sindhu Thakre, reportedly became enraged after the child, Om Vange, splashed coloured water on her while playing. The boy sustained around 18–20% burns and is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Nagpur.
Om lives in Koradi with his maternal uncle and grandmother for schooling, while his parents work in Chankapur in Khaparkheda.
Zonal Deputy Commissioner of Police Sandeep Pakhale said legal action has been initiated against the woman. “It appears to be a case of sudden provocation. The boy splashed coloured water on her and she reacted in anger. It was not premeditated, but it was a reckless act. There can be no leniency when a child’s safety is endangered,” he said.
The incident occurred near a Holika Dahan bonfire. Witnesses said that after the child playfully sprayed gulal on her, Thakre allegedly picked up a bucket of steaming water and flung it at him.
District Child Protection Officer Mustak Pathan, who later inspected the site, said strict action should be taken in the case. “This is not a minor injury but a serious one. We will push for strong charges so that festivals are not used as an excuse for violent behaviour,” he said.
Koradi police have registered a case under Section 117 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for intentionally causing grievous hurt, which carries a punishment of up to seven years in prison along with a fine.
A senior officer from Koradi police station said the woman has not yet been arrested, taking into account her age, but the investigation is ongoing.
