Barrackpore boy, 10, who threatened CoP known to police

UPDATE:

The ten-year-old boy who called the E999 command Centre on Saturday and threatened to behead Police Commissioner Gary Griffith had previously made other prank calls to the Barrackpore police and the Police Command Centre.

Investigators led by Insp Rajesh Gokool interviewed the boy and his mother at their Colonial Road, Barrackpore home on Saturday and obtained statements.

The boy’s 31-year-old mother told police her son, who suffers from a mental illness, had made prank calls to the Barrackpore police station and other stations in the district, as well as the E999 Command Centre, on several occasions. She said police had come to their home several times after the calls but left without charging her son because of his mental condition.

On Saturday, hours after her son made the latest call, investigators obtained medical records from her which proved her claim.
The boy is also expected to have surgery next year for another medical condition.
Police said he will not be charged.

On Saturday around 8.50 am the boy used his mother’s cellphone to call the E999 Command Centre. He threatened to cut off the head of the CoP and then hung up.

He is the fourth individual to have made threatening calls to Griffith since he took office earlier this year.

Yesterday Griffith said the police will try to put together the necessary resources to assist the boy in terms of counselling.

ORIGINAL STORY:

The 10-year-old schoolboy who called the E999 command centre on Saturday and threatened to behead Police Commissioner Gary Griffith is mentally ill.

Police say the boy had previously made other prank calls to the Barrackpore police and the command centre.

Investigators led by Inspector Rajesh Gokool interviewed the child and his mother at their Barrackpore home on Saturday.

The mother told police her son suffers from a mental illness. She showed his medical records to support her claim. Police said the boy will not be charged for any offence.