Click to play videoNew Delhi: Wonder marathon kid Budhia Singh's trainer Biranchi Das was on Monday arrested by the police after the boy's mother lodged an FIR against him alleging physical torture and criminal intimidation. Budhia had also accused his mentor for physically torturing him.
Budhia said Biranchi Das beat him up and did not feed him properly. A child welfare committee is already holding an inquiry into the allegations. Human rights activists have severely criticised the coach for endangering the boy's health.
Budhia has been taken away from the coach and now stays with his mother in a slum in Bhubaneswar.
But the coach continues to maintain he only has Budhia's interests at heart. Budhia had been stopped by the police from participating in a 500-kilometer walkathon a few months ago.
Budhia said, "Biranchi sir has been beating me since a long time and did not feed me properly."
"The boy has been taken to the Capital hospital for a medical examination. Further action will be initiated against Das on the basis of the report", PTI quoted city Deputy Superintendent of Police Sarat Sahoo as saying.
Talking about her son, Budhia’s mother Sukanti Singh said, “When he came home and took off his shirt I saw the scars on his back. I will not let him go back. Why should he run? So that Biranchi Das can make money?"
Earlier, Biranchi Das tried to blame the boy's sister for the incident. He said the sister was involved with one of the boys in the group and so his mother took him away.
"Some people have instigated Budhia's mother against me," he alleged while confirming that she had taken the boy away from the Judo association hall where he lived with Das and got training.
“Can you believe that I can torture the boy whom I have been trying to build up?” he said.
The boy was provided with security as his mother alleged that she along with her son faced threat to their lives.
His mother had taken the boy away from the judo association hall a few days ago where he lived and trained with Biranchi.
"Biranchi has threatened me that his goons would target me and my son", Sukanti said in her complaint.
Budhia had entered the Limca Book Of Records when he ran a distance of 65 km from Puri to Bhubaneswar on May 2, 2006 in 7.02 hours.
The run also kicked-off a controversy with several organisations and the district child welfare committee objecting to such shows involving a small boy.
(With agency inputs)
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