By IANS
Bhubaneswar : Little marathon runner Budhia Singh’s coach Biranchi Das was arrested here Monday for allegedly torturing the boy.
“The boy’s mother Sukanti Singh lodged a complaint in our police station saying that Budhia had been physically and emotionally tortured by Das. On the basis of the complaint, we arrested Das Monday,” B.K. Patnaik, the officer in charge of Badagada police station, told IANS.
He added that Budhia has been sent to a hospital here for a medical examination.
“Since the past few days he was physically and mentally torturing my son. That is why I brought him from his clutches,” Budhia’s mother told IANS.
The boy, who was earlier living with Das and his wife, is now living with his mother.
Budhia, who became a celebrity after his 65 km run from Puri to Bhubaneswar last year, said: “Once he hung me upside down from a ceiling fan with my legs tied and switched on the fan. Since long sir has been beating me up and not providing me proper food.”
Budhia’s complaint has come at a time when Orissa’s Child Welfare Committee is probing allegations that the coach is exploiting the child for personal gain.
Now the committee’s stand has been strengthened. State Women and Child Development Minister Pramila Mallik said: “We will take care of the child and bear all the expenses that will be incurred.”
Das and his wife adopted Budhia after reportedly rescuing him from a slum. The couple claim they helped him become a running sensation.
Das has denied all the charges made against him. “The allegations the boy and his mother are making are baseless,” he said.
“The boy’s mother asked me for money to construct a new house in a slum where she was living. The house was damaged in the recent rains. Since I don’t have the ability to provide funds she came out with these allegations.
“I am the man who picked up the boy from worst possible situation. I adopted him as my son, trained him and made him what he is today. The allegations that the boy and his mother are making may further ruin Budhia’s future. They must have been prompted by somebody else to say this. Someone might be using them against me,” Das added.