Daredevil stunt by a six-year-old child on the busy streets of Kuakhia near National Highway-5 has sparked off a row.
The Jajpur District Child Welfare Committee has, meanwhile, ordered a probe into the episode. Awestruck passersby watched Awala Dwarikadhis performing the acrobatics in stunned silence as the child was forced to act incredible stunts. People watched the show, little knowing the legal impropriety of the performance.
A man drove a motorcycle over the chest of the kid on Friday at village Purbakota under Korei block of Jajpur district. Stone slabs were put on the child’s chest and onlookers were asked to jump over his body. While the audience was in for cheap entertainment, it was, agreeably, an inhuman act. Awala is a Class-I student of the Saraswati Sishu Mandir at village Kiabuda. His father Awala Katesh Rao was proud of his death-defying feat despite grave risks involved in it.
“My child evinced interest in this form of martial art. With my consent, he is doing so. There is nothing wrong in such act. He is skilled enough to withstand enormous loads” the wonder kid’s father. District Child Protection Officer Niranjan Kar said, “It is unethical and illegal. This goes against the letter and spirit of child rights laws. It is an offence under the existing law. Steps have been initiated to stop shows involving children. Those responsible for influencing or promoting such acts will be taken to task.”