The Hindu : Front Page : Budhia’s coach arrested on charges of torture

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Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007
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Budhia’s coach arrested on charges of torture

Staff Reporter

— Photo: PTI

HURT BADLY: Marathon kid Budhia shows injuries allegedly inflicted on him by his coach, Biranchi Das, at the City Hospital in Bhubaneswar on Monday.

BHUBANESWAR: Child marathon runner Budhia Singh’s coach Biranchi Das was arrested here on Monday on charges of torturing the child.

Bhubaneswar police picked up Mr. Das from the State Judo Hall soon after Budhia’s mother Sukanti Singh filed a complaint with the Badagada police.

Mr. Das was later produced before Sub-divisional Judicial Magistrate Arun Kumar Sahu who remanded him to judicial custody till August 16. The magistrate rejected the application filed by the coach seeking bail in the case.

The police got Budhia medically examined at the Government-run Capital Hospital.

“Biranchi Das was physically torturing my son. Budhia was not even given required food. When we protested, Mr. Das threatened to kill us,” Ms. Singh told mediapersons outside the police station.

She also alleged that Mr. Das had taken away all the money, which he received for her son.

The coach said the charges were baseless. “The mother and child must have been instigated by somebody. The child was never ill-fed,” he said.

“The value of all donations I have received for Budhia is Rs. 1.32 lakh. I have spent most of the money on Budhia’s food and clothing. The mother was also given assistance,” Mr. Das said.

The State Women and Child Development (WCD) department ordered an inquiry into the allegations.

“All aspects of the torture will be inquired into. I have asked the Child Welfare Committee of Khurda district, a quasi judiciary body, to submit the report within two days,” WCD Minister Pramila Mallick said.

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