Police prevent Budhia run in Bangalore

Bangalore, May 27 (UNI) High drama was witnessed at the Cubbon Park this morning when child marathon runner Budhia Singh was prevented from running in an event organised by the Press club.

Budhia is here along with his foster father and trainer Birachi Das on an invitation from the Press Club, which would be felicitating him here this evening. He was to run a short distance covering the Vidhana Soudha and the Raj Bhavan before entering the Cubbon Park, where the Club is located.

Four-and-a-half-year-old Budhia, who created a world record by completing a 65 km marathon, arrived at the vicinity of the Press Club to see policemen waiting for him and the coach. Even as he prepared to start his run, a police official came to him and said he could not run in accordance with an order of the Orissa High Court.

However, his trainer insisted that there was no court order preventing Budhia from running.

Budhia was not allowed to go out of the press club and later he ran a few laps on the lawns of the club itself.

''Budhia is being haunted by the government of Orissa,'' Mr Das, criticising the attitude of the officials, said.

He was forcefully picked up by police officials and made to undergo a medical test back home. The doctor at the Capital Hospital, who said the boy should not run long distances, was later found to be corrupt and was suspended, he claimed.

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