Balasore: Police have launched a manhunt for a couple who allegedly tortured a six-year-old repeatedly at a village here.

Balasore's child protection unit rescued the minor, who is undergoing treatment at the district headquarters hospital. The minor was branded with hot iron and physically assaulted several times.

His maternal grandfather, with assistance from child protection unit, lodged an FIR with the police on Tuesday. The police have registered a case under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including attempt to murder. Soro police station inspector-in-charge Dillip Sahu said: "The victim is undergoing treatment and we are recording his statement. The couple, in their forties, have fled their home."

The couple, Sridhar and Pauni Mahalik of Mugunipur village, volunteered to take care of the boy after his father died. At that time, the minor was staying with his maternal grandfather at Talapada. Seeing that the boy's grandfather was facing difficulties in raising the child, they expressed their desire to adopt him as up they had no son.

"About a year ago, the couple took the victim home. They subjected him to various forms of torture, including mental and physical. He was not given adequate food and engaged in domestic work. On several occasions, he was beaten and even branded with hot iron. There are several cut marks, scars and burn injuries on his body ," said the district child protection unit's probation and legal officer Muktikanta Panda.

"The adoption was not legal. The police will take proper action," he said.