Indian police block 'wonder boy'

Budhia Singh has earned a place in the record books Enlarge Image

Police in India have stopped a five-year-old Indian wonder boy famed for his long-distance runs from competing in a 500km (310-mile) walk.

Dozens of police officers blocked a road in Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Orissa, and prevented Budhia Singh from taking part in the walkathon.

Officials say the move was necessary in the interests of the boy's health.

Last year they said that a similar trek in the scorching heat amounted to a form of "severe torture".

'Exploitation'

"We have an order that Budhia Singh should not be allowed to participate in the proposed walkathon," Amitabh Thakur, superintendent of police, told reporters in Bhubaneswar.

"Nobody can exploit Budhia for their personal gain. The authorities told us to ensure that," he said.

Budhia would have been competing in sweltering heat

Last May Budhia entered the record books after running 65km (40 miles) uninterrupted in seven hours and two minutes.

Officials dubbed him "marathon boy", and he became an overnight celebrity as newspapers and TV channels competed to cover his every step.

But human rights organisations harshly criticised both the local government and Budhia's coach for endangering the boy's health.

They warned that the same thing could happen again on Wednesday as day-time temperatures approached 38C.

But the boy's mother and his coach - along with nearly 50 supporters - argued with police over the decision.

They staged a sit-in protest on the road where police blocked Budhia.

They said that they would remain sitting until lawyers had quashed the government move.

In May 2006, doctors said that Budhia had "high blood pressure and cardiological stress".