His is perhaps the most tragic story to emerge from the Sainthia train accident. After sitting quietly for a long time at the Suri Sadar Hospital,an injured Asraful Haque finally opened up on Tuesday to tell authorities that he had been sold by his family to Sager Ali,a blind beggar from their village,due to grinding poverty. The parents of the 12-year-old,belonging to Malda districts Khamsi village,are landless labourers,and he was injured in his head and hand in Mondays accident. Ali hasnt been seen since the train collision,and Asraful isnt likely to get the compensation of Rs 25,000 due to him pending an inquiry into him being sold. All Asraful has on him now is a chit in his pocket with the telephone number of his father,Imtiaz Ali,scribbled on it. When the authorities dialled it on Tuesday,it was found to be switched off.
