Bangalore cops prevent Budhia's run

BANGALORE: In the wake of Orissa High Court prohibiting marathon prodigy Budhia Singh's run, the city police on Saturday prevented him from giving a demo performance here.

"Budhia and myself are disappointed that the boy is not being allowed to run," Budhia's coach Biranchi Das, who is under attack from human rights organisations, said.

Budhia had been invited by the Press Club of Bangalore on the occasion of its annual women and children's day celebrations to give a demo run.

The child and the coach who arrived here on Friday were preparing for the run, but police intervened saying the Press Club of Bangalore has not sought any permission for the run.

Police in sizeable strength had been deployed to ensure that Budhia did not run.

On being asked about the raging controversy over Budhia completing a 65-km marathon, which saw his name entered in the Limca book of records, Das rebutted "where is the controversy. Those people who talked a lot about Bhudhia's health and his well being have not helped him any way. They have no got him a pair of shoes".

Das said he would soon leave for London along with the young prodigy for eliciting a second opinion on the findings of Budhia's medical check-ups in Orissa, which he termed as 'incorrect'.

 "The Women and Child Welfare Department of Orissa has not communicated me so far in writing that Budhia should not be made to run," he said.