SASARAM, Dec. 16 -- Two uncles of an eight-year-old motherless boy allegedly tortured and critically injured him by burning his tongue, jaw and cheeks with a hot iron rod in Rohtas district on Monday evening, police said.

Police said the incident took place in a village under the jurisdiction of Baddi police station.

The child's mother died six months ago, while his father works in Maharashtra. The boy had been living in the village with his two uncles. Villagers said he was often neglected, remained hungry and wandered around the neighbourhood.

Two days earlier, the child had entered a nearby house in search of food. The house owner took him to the Baddi police station, accusing him of theft. However, after preliminary inquiry, police...