Basti (Uttar Pradesh), April 17, 2026 — In a horrifying and heart-wrenching incident that has sent shockwaves through Uttar Pradesh, an 11-year-old boy is fighting for his life after being thrown into a burning tandoor (clay oven) during a wedding ceremony. The extreme act of cruelty was allegedly committed by a catering worker following a trivial dispute over a rasgulla.
The tragic incident took place on Wednesday in Malauli Gosain village, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Chhawani police station in Basti district.
The Trivial Dispute Turns Deadly
The victim, identified as 11-year-old Chaman, a resident of Durjanpur in Gonda district, had been living with his maternal grandmother (Nani) in Baghanala, Basti, following the death of his mother. He had accompanied his grandmother to attend a relative’s wedding in Malauli Gosain village.
According to eyewitness accounts, the wedding was proceeding joyfully when Chaman approached the food counter. He reportedly began taking rasgullas from the dessert section to eat. Seeing the young boy taking sweets repeatedly, the catering contractor present at the stall became increasingly enraged.
The situation quickly escalated into pure brutality. The accused caterer reportedly grabbed the young boy, scolded him aggressively, and in a fit of unrestrained anger, lifted him up and dangled him over the open, blazing tandoor to scare him. During this horrifying act, the caterer allegedly lost his balance or grip, and the young boy plummeted directly into the burning oven.
Desperate Rescue and Critical Condition
Hearing the agonizing screams of the child from inside the tandoor, absolute panic erupted at the wedding venue. Horrified relatives and guests rushed to the catering area and desperately pulled the burning child out of the flames. However, by the time he was extracted, Chaman had sustained severe burn injuries extending from his face down to his waist.
He was immediately rushed to the medical college in Ayodhya for emergency treatment. Considering the critical nature of his extensive burns, doctors provided primary care and immediately referred him to a specialized hospital in Lucknow. The 11-year-old is currently battling for his life in the Intensive Care Unit.
Taking advantage of the ensuing chaos and panic, the accused catering worker fled the venue and remains at large.
Police Action and Public Outrage
The brutal incident has sparked massive outrage among the local community, who are demanding immediate arrest and the strictest possible punishment for the perpetrator.
Upon receiving information about the incident, the Chhawani police reached the spot and initiated an investigation. Chaman’s maternal uncle (Mama), Devideen Nishad, has filed a formal written complaint against the accused tandoor worker.
Confirming the details of the incident, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Swarnima Singh stated, “A child has been severely burnt in a tragic incident during a wedding. An FIR has been registered against the unidentified catering worker based on the complaint. Our teams are actively conducting raids to locate the suspect, and he will be arrested very soon.”
