Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Aug 9: Officials of the district women and child development department and district children's protection unit rushed to the rescue of Mallikarjun, son of a couple from Bagalkot district staying in rented accommodation at Kaup Kalya in the district, who had been found in unconscious state and fractured hand in the intensive care unit of a city-based hospital a couple of days ago, after going missing from his home about two months back.
After media reports on Friday carried details about the sordid state of the boy and expressed suspicion that he had been subjected to torture, help came from various quarters for Mallikarjun (14), son of Basavaraj Haligeri and Shantavva couple. Officer of the district children's protection unit, Rajendra Bekal, zilla panchayat members, Katapadi Shankar Poojary and Arun Shetty Padoor, visited the boy's home on Friday morning and got first hand account of incident from the boy's parents.
They promised to refer his case to Children's Welfare Committee for investigation, apart from arranging to meet medical costs of the boy by the government. Child Welfare Committee, which took cognizance of the seriousness of the case, took up investigation immediately. However, a clear picture will emerge only after the boy, who is in a critical state now, is able to talk. If the boy is unable to provide any details, the committee will gather full information from parents, trace the accused, and serve summons to them, it is learnt.
Head of the committee, B K Narayan, said that the boy has been ordered to be provided with psychiatric care at Baliga Hospital in the town for conducting preliminary investigation about his mental state now, and that a report thereof has been sought to be submitted to the committee soon.
Several locals and leaders of organizations like Savita Samaja leader, Satish Bhandary, owner of the rented house, Nagesh, and others approached the family and extended financial and other help. Basavaraj said that in addition to extending monetary support, a number of dignitaries and common people have promised to support their cause till the guilty are punished.
District in-charge minister, Vinay Kumar Sorake, visited the family on Friday evening, and pledged solidarity with them. He said that information would be gathered and if the need is felt, action would be taken against the concerned. He promised to extend government help to the family of the boy.