Lucknow, Aug 14 - A 14-year-old boy lost his eyesight after police allegedly tortured him for over a week, the boy's neighbour said Friday, though the police said he was suffering from viral fever.

Rohit was arrested in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh July 29 after a businessman lodged a First Information Report (FIR) alleging that the boy stole mobile phones from his shop.

'Police first picked up his father Ramdev and later nabbed Rohit. He was tortured to such an extent that he lost his eyesight,' Rohit's neighbour R.S. Yadav said.

A police team Thursday brought Rohit for a check up at the Chatrapati Sahuji Maharaj Medical University here.

'I was beaten badly by the police and was also forced to admit the theft,' said Rohit while being dragged inside a police vehicle.