did they hit you a lot?

I wish this child would at least cry and give me something to do. I could comfort him then.
- 'Did they hit you a lot?'
- 'All the time. On the kidneys. Then they put me on the ground and dragged me through the mud by the neck ... They said, "Do you need some help?" And they tortured me with electric current. That's what they meant by helping. They connected the wires and turned a handle, like on a telephone. The more they turned it, the stronger the current that passed through me.'