Odisha schoolboy found chained in hostel room; video goes viral, parents defend move

In a disturbing scene of events, a Class IV student was found chained by the leg inside a government school hostel in Nilagiri block of Balasore district. The incident came to light after a video from the Begunia Government UP School hostel went viral, showing the child’s leg fastened with an iron shackle.

Responding to media persons, school authorities said the boy had allegedly been restrained to prevent him from repeatedly fleeing the hostel and returning home without permission.

The video, recorded by other students, also captured the child saying he had not been attending classes, raising questions about monitoring and supervision inside the facility.

Viral Video Sparks Concern

As the video went viral on several social media platforms, many questioned how a minor could be kept in chains inside a government-run hostel. The footage showed hostel inmates pointing to the shackle as the Class IV student sat on the floor near his bedding.

The child’s mother, Lili Singh, defended the act, saying it was done out of helplessness after repeated counselling to study failed.

“We counselled him repeatedly, but he did not understand. As a result, we were forced to take this step of chaining him up. We do not want him tied up all the time except for the period when other kids return home after school. They can open him up during meals. We are aware of everything,” she said.

Her statement suggested that the family believed the restraint was necessary to keep the child from running away.

Headmaster Claims Father Carried Out the Restraint

Similarly, the school administration presented a different version. Headmaster Raghunath Bugudai said the chaining was done earlier in the day by the boy’s father.

“His father came and chained him this morning at around 10 am. The kid stayed in the hostel but slipped back to his home yesterday. Enraged, his father beat him up and brought him to the school before chaining him up. He then asked the peon to keep him chained except for when he has to attend his classes,” Bugudai said.

He said the staff had no role in restraining the child and only followed instructions given by the parent.

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Demand for Probe

Sources cited education officials who said they will verify whether hostel protocols were violated, whether staff allowed or enabled the restraint, and whether the child faced any physical or mental harm.

Authorities are likely to initiate an investigation to determine the circumstances under which the boy was chained and whether corrective action is required against staff or guardians.