Balasore: An eight-year-old boy, allegedly kept chained for nearly 10 days as punishment in the hostel of Begunia Primary School in Odisha’s Nilagiri block, was rescued on Wednesday evening.
The matter came to light after a video, showing a child with an iron shackle fastened around his leg, went viral on social media, leading to widespread public outrage. Balasore MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi also immediately informed the district collector and directed an inquiry into the incident.
Nilagiri Child Welfare Officer Shailendra Satpathy stated that, on the Balasore district collector’s orders, a team rescued the Class IV student in the evening. He added that a thorough investigation will be conducted and strict action will be taken against those responsible.
According to sources, the boy was reportedly chained for fleeing the hostel and going home without permission. His father had reportedly asked the hostel staff to restrain him because he frequently caused disturbances.
Headmaster Raghunath Bugudai stated that the boy was chained by his father. “I was told that the boy would repeatedly run away. His father brought the boy back to school and chained him. He instructed the peon to keep him chained at all times except when he needed to attend classes,” he claimed.
He added that none of the school staff were involved in restraining the boy.
The boy’s mother also justified the punishment, explaining that it was a last resort after multiple failed attempts to make him study. “We tried counselling him many times, but he simply wouldn’t listen or improve. That’s why we had no choice but to chain him. We don’t want him restrained all day; only during the time when the other students go home after classes. They can untie him for meals. We are fully aware of the situation,” she told a local channel.
