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.

Rohit was arrested in Ayodhya town in Uttar Pradesh July 29 after a businessman complained to the police that the boy stole mobile phones from his shop.

'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 Chattrapati Sahuji Maharaj Medical University here.

'I was beaten badly by the police and was forced to admit that I committed the theft,' said Rohit.

A police officer said Rohit had admitted taking the mobile and added that he was suffering from viral infection when he was arrested.

'We recovered 18 mobiles from him,' Senior Superintendent of Police (Faizabad) R.K.S. Rathore told IANS.

Rathore added that strict action would be taken against policemen if it was proved that they had blinded the boy.