The much-hyped Bhubaneswar to Kolkata walkathon by wonderkid Budhia Singh ran into rough weather on Wednesday due to Khurda district Child Welfare Committee's direction that the six-year-old boy could not be part of the event.
The district administration moved in this morning to stop the boy from commencing the 500 km walk even as a large crowd gathered near the judo training centre run by Budhia's mentor Biranchi Das.
District Collector N C Jena and Superintendent of Police Amitav Thakur were present at the spot and holding discussion with the organisers of the event.
We have come to execute the CWC order which says that the child cannot be engaged in the proposed walkathon by any person, the SP told PTI, adding, "If they try to do it forcibly, we will take preventive action."
Two platoons of armed police had been deployed at the spot as well.
Das, who has been fighting with the CWC over the use of Budhia, however, asserted that the event would take place.
"We will continue with the programme," he asserted.
The CWC is a quasi-judicial body entrusted by the Orissa High Court to keep an eye on Budhia Singh.
Giving a twist to the whole affair, Das had on Tuesday resigned from the Budhia Singh Trust of which he was the managing trustee.
In view of the stand taken by the CWC, he had decided to take part in the 11-day walkathon as an individual, Das said, adding that the event will now be organised by fans, supporters and well-wishers of Budhia.
The CWC, however, had maintained that action would be taken against persons responsible for making the child part of the programme.
"Action could be initiated against the persons under section 188 of the IPC (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant), which involved imprisonment up to six months or fine or both," the CWC chairman R S Mishra said.
Mishra said the ban had been imposed on Budhia's participation in the programme as he had been found medically unsuitable for undertaking such long-distance run or walk.
Das, however, had clarified earlier that Budhia's participation would be minimal as he would walk for a few minutes in urban areas on the way. Otherwise, he would travel in an air-conditioned car with all comfort and assistance.
