Goalpara: Bare feet do not deter speed or determination, young Israhel Ali proved on Monday.

The Class IV student ran barefoot to win a 5km race in the school category during the Assam Police Day celebrations in Goalpara district. He finished first among hundreds of schoolchildren in a race that began at 6am from the Borpukhuri par near the Asom Club.

“We couldn’t imagine that this thin boy would be able to finish the race. It was such a surprise,” said a police officer.

The 10-year-old is a student of Thakurbari Hindi LP School in Goalpara town and a resident of Hulukanda hill. “I don’t have shoes. My father is dead and my mother is very poor,” Israhel said candidly.

His mother, Jomiron Nesa, works in a hotel to support the family. His elder brother Mustak is a Class V student in the same school.

Israhel nurtures dreams of becoming an athlete: “I want to run. I love running,” he said. “I want to become a policeman because all policemen have shoes and good clothes to wear. If I get a pair of shoes, I will go jogging during the winter. It is difficult to run barefoot during winter.”

Proud mother Jomiron said, “My husband died a few years ago and I work in hotels to somehow make ends meet. There are expenses for studies too. I don’t have the money to buy shoes for them.”

Robin Kumar Roy, a local businessman, said, “Israhel is very honest and dedicated. Everyday he ran on the sand along the riverbank and around Hulukanda hill. He sometimes works in a hotel to support his mother and whatever he earns he gives her.”

After hearing Israhel’s story, advocate Jiten Das, the president of the Goalpara District Sports Association (GDSA), came forward to support the child.

“We will look after the child. The athletics wing of the association will certainly help this kid fulfil his dream,” he said.

Superintendent of police Amitava Sinha also wished Israhel a bright future.

As part of the two-day celebrations, the district police arranged on Sunday an art competition where 127 participants from all overt the district took part.

Additional superintendent of police Nabanit Mahanta conducted the programme. The superintendent of police gave away the prizes.

The police also carried out a safai abhiyan (cleanliness drive) in and around the Pahartoli area of the town.