The plight of 2 brothers - Sameer and Zumaid - who were noticed walking with their right legs chained to heavy weights has sparked off a controversy.
These kids belong to the Nalgonda district, and they were chained to heavy weights as a punishment reportedly for repeatedly trying to run away from their madrassa (a religious Islamic school).
It has been reported that a few days ago, locals who spotted the 2 kids making a dash for a moving train stopped them, and handed them over to the local police station. The police, who ascertained that the kids were being forced to attend a madrassa, called the children's mother and reprimanded her.
However, the mother was adamant on sending her kids to a madrassa, and having discussed the issue with the teachers at the madrassa, decided to chain Sameer and Zumaid to heavy wieghts in an attempt to stop them from trying to run away again.
On being alerted of this incident, the media probed the issue. It has been reported that human rights orgnisations and child rights committees have responded to the plight of the kids, and that the committees will intervene in the case.
According to sources, 7 other students were also harshly punished in the past for expressing a dislike for the madrassa. However, this is the first time that a child was chained in such a manner.