Mumbai (Desk), 10 July : In a shocking incident caught on CCTV, a man assaulted a 12-year-old boy in the elevator lobby of a residential building in Mumbai for not holding the lift door open. The incident took place on July 4 around 5:00 pm, when the boy was on his way to tuition from his 14th-floor apartment.

The horrifying footage, now circulating widely on social media, shows the man confronting the child near the elevator. After a brief exchange, the man slaps the boy across the face, grabs him aggressively, and even bites his arm, leaving the child terrified and injured.

According to the boy’s family, the man was angry that the child did not hold the elevator door open for him. The boy, unaware that someone was approaching, had already entered the lift and pressed the button before the man could get in. Enraged by this perceived slight, the man waited for the boy to return and attacked him in the lobby area.

The child ran home crying, and his parents immediately took him to a nearby hospital for treatment. Doctors confirmed visible injury marks, including a bite on his arm. His parents then approached the local police station and filed an official complaint.

“We were horrified when we saw the CCTV footage,” the boy’s mother told local media. “He is just a child. He didn’t do anything wrong. No one deserves to be treated like that, let alone a 12-year-old boy.”

Following the complaint, police launched an investigation and identified the accused as a resident of the same building. He has been booked under sections of the Indian Penal Code related to assault and causing hurt, as well as provisions under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.

“The accused has been summoned and is cooperating with the investigation,” said a senior police official. “We are treating this case with utmost seriousness due to the age of the victim and the nature of the assault.”

Residents of the building are in disbelief over the incident. Many have condemned the man’s actions and demanded strict action. “This is a gated community. We expect our children to be safe here. What happened is unacceptable,” said a member of the housing society’s committee.

The case has sparked a wider conversation online about adult aggression toward children, mental health, and the responsibility of residential communities to ensure child safety. “Children are not responsible for adult frustration. If you can’t control your temper in public, you need help, not access to other people’s kids,” one social media user wrote.

The boy is currently recovering at home, both physically and emotionally shaken by the event. His parents are urging authorities to take swift action and prevent such incidents from happening again.

This disturbing episode highlights the importance of vigilance, empathy, and holding individuals accountable for violent behavior, especially when it’s directed at children in spaces meant to be safe.