Zia-ul-Haq. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Dec. 13: The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Cuttack has been left in a quandary as Zia-ul-Haq’s parents have refused to allow rehabilitation of their son until the persons in jail on charges of torturing the 12-year-old child are released.

The CWC had registered the case after it was referred to it by the district administration following direction of the high court on Friday. After visiting the child’s house and interacting with him and his parents on Saturday the five member Committee had decided to enrol him in a residential school.

But the Committee has since not been able to proceed further. “The parents had given their consent for it, but now they have put the condition that the accused be released first,” CWC chairman S.N. Das told The Telegraph today.

“Efforts are on to break the impasse by trying to convince the parents that keeping the child away from the environment in which he is growing and ensure his education needs to be given priority to reform him. We hope better sense will prevail on them soon,” added the CWC Chairman.

Zia born to the fourth wife of 94-year-old Raahat Hussain Ansari stays with his parents and other siblings in a rented house of Ali Mosque at Saidani Bagicha area under Lalbag police station.

A vernacular daily had on December 8, published his photographs tied nude to a tree and being beaten up mercilessly.

Police had arrested - Sayed Inayat Ali alias Rinku (28), Sayed Idayat Ali alias Ida (brothers) of Saidani Bagicha and Sajid Ali alias Kuni of Khatbin Sahi in connection with the brutal act. Cases had been registered against them for wrongful restraint, voluntarily causing hurt and criminal intimidation with common intention. They have since been in jail custody.

The High Court had on December 10, directed the Cuttack collector for rehabilitation of the Zia after the deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Cuttack submitted a report stating that the brutal act was intended to “chastise” the boy who had gone “wayward”. The court had ordered for his free education.

“Since he is a minor consent of his parents is vital to proceed with his rehabilitation. Efforts are on to convince them. But we are already considering options for his education,” Cuttack collector Kishore Kumar Mohanty told The Telegraph today.

“While offer for free education has been received from DAV school authorities the options of Servants of India Society’s Residential School at Choudwar and the National Child Labour School in Cuttack are being weighed,” Mohanty said.

The high court had asked the DCP, to inquire and submit a report after advocate Dayanidhi Lenka filed a letter petition enclosing photographs of the brutal act published in the vernacular daily.