Sold by father, boy hurt in train accident faces uncertain future

SURI - Ashraful Haq, 12, was sold off by his father to a blind beggar, who was taking him to Ranchi in the ill-fated Vananchal Express for helping him in getting alms. But the beggar died in the train accident in West Bengal’s Birbhum district and Ashraful is now left to fend for himself.

Ashraful is the eldest son of Intezab Ali, a resident of Samsi in Malda district.

“My father is very poor. I have two other brothers. We hardly get two square meals a day,” said Ashraful, now under treatment at the Suri district hospital.

He broke his right leg and received injuries on the hand, face and head in Monday’s train mishap.

“My father sold me off to Sager Ali, who was a blind beggar. I don’t know the exact amount my father took. But I saw him taking money. Sager was taking me to his home in Ranchi where he would have used me as his assistant in begging,” said Ashraful.

“But he died in the accident. I don’t know what I will do now,” said a traumatized Ashraful, concerned about his future.

Two railway officials Tuesday visited the hospital to hand over Rs.25,000 as compensation to the youngster, but problems arose after Ashraful told them his tragic tale.

As Ashraful is a minor the money has to be paid to his relatives.

“I had given them my father’s mobile number, and he was more than keen to rush here to take the money. It was then that I told the railway officials about my plight,” said Ashraful lying in his hospital bed.

“Then they said they would not give the money in haste. They will first speak to my father to ascertain whether he had indeed sold me off. If they find that he had sold me off, then they will not hand over the money to him. They will then give the amount to my mother. And that will take more time,” he added.

Sixtythree people were killed when the engine of the speeding Uttar Banga Express ploughed through three coaches of the stationary Vananchal Express at the Sainthia station in the wee hours Monday.